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In the military, "selection boards" for judges aren't a single entity; they are a tiered system of senior legal officers who act as gatekeepers. Unlike civilian judicial appointments, which often involve public hearings, military judicial selection is an internal, "closed-door" process.
Here is exactly who sits at the table and how they decide your fate:
1. The Judicial Screening Board (The Gatekeepers)
Before you can even be considered for a specific courtroom, you must be "screened" and "certified." Each service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) convenes its own board.
The President of the Board: Typically a high-ranking officer, such as the Assistant Judge Advocate General (AJAG) or the Chief Judge of that service.
The Members: These are usually senior Colonels (O-6) or Captains (Navy) who have extensive experience in military justice. Often, at least one or two members are sitting or former trial judges.
Diversity of Perspective: In the Navy and Marines, for example, the board is required by instruction (like JAGINST 5817.1K) to include a mix of officers that reflects the applicant pool, often including representation from different legal specialties to ensure the candidate isn't just a "one-trick pony" in criminal law.
2. The Final Word: The Judge Advocate General (TJAG)
The selection board doesn't actually "appoint" the judge; they provide a recommended list of "Best Qualified" candidates.
The ultimate authority to "certify" a military judge lies with The Judge Advocate General (TJAG) of that branch (a 3-star General or Admiral).
TJAG reviews the board’s findings and the candidate’s entire "Master Personnel File." If there is any "tray damage" (administrative issues or past misconduct), this is where the buck stops.
What They Are Looking At (The "Unseen" Files)
When the board sits down, they have a "board floor" where they review your entire career on a projector or tablet. They see things the public doesn't:
The OER/FITREP "Code": They don't just read that you did a good job. They look at your "stratification"—are you ranked #1 out of 20 peers, or #10?
The "Black Book" Reputation: Because the senior JAG community is small, board members often "vibe check" candidates with the Chief Circuit Judges. They ask: "Is this person fair, or do they have an axe to grind?"
Judicial Temperament: They look for evidence of "equanimity." If a candidate was known for losing their temper with opposing counsel or being disrespectful to court staff, the board will likely pass them over, regardless of their legal brilliance.
3. The "Politicking" Reality
While you can't "lobby" a selection board (contacting board members is usually a career-ending move), the politicking is reputational.
Sponsorship: A candidate usually needs a "Godfather" or "Godmother"—a senior mentor who has already served as a judge or a Senior Staff Judge Advocate (SJA)—to write a letter of recommendation.
The Circuit Chief’s Input: The Chief Trial Judge of the service often has a massive (though unofficial) say in who gets selected, as they are the ones who will have to manage the new judge.
Overcoming the Past
If you are asking because of a specific interest in someone overcoming "tray damage," the board's composition is their biggest hurdle. Because the board consists of "Perfect Record" officers, they can be very unforgiving of past mistakes. To get past them, a candidate usually has to show a decade of "flawless" performance following the "damage" to prove it was a youthful outlier rather than a character flaw.
Would you like me to look up specific historical examples of military judges who had "bumpy" starts to their careers but still made the bench?