Diplomatic Corps/JAG
Duties & Description

While not instrumental to the operation of a ship, Diplomatic representatives are vital when the ship encounters alien races and cultures. It is in that role that diplomacy, negotiations, and conflict resolution skills become vital.  The primary goal of the Diplomatic Corps (DC) & the Judge Advocate General (JAG) is to pursue and achieve justice, and promote intergalactic relations between the Starship in which they serve, the Federation, and any other civilization or species.
Members of the Corps include the following positions:
  • Diplomatic Commanders
  • Diplomatic Officers
  • Federation Ambassadors
  • Ambassadorial Aides
  • Alien Specialists
  • Archivists
  • Curators
  • Captain's Yeoman
  • Historian/Records officers
  • Xenosociologists
  • Others (tba)

Members of the DC may also opt to serve their ships as representatives of the Judge Advocate General (JAGR).
JAGR officers are responsible for the investigation, prosecution, and defense of the men and women enlisted in Star Fleet.  In addition, they are skilled in the many different forms of interplanetary, environmental, and administrative law, they assist in the development and ratification of treaties and act as legal advisors to Crew members.  Each JAGR holds a legal degree, and must take an oath to uphold and protect the rights of Star Fleet personnel, the virtues of the Federation and Star Fleet Charters.  Newly commissioned officers receive immediate responsibility in handling significant legal issues.
Each DC Officer is responsible for a certain group of individuals, or sphere of influence, in Star Fleet. The spheres are:
  • A vessel or starship
  • A Starbase or other port
  • A Planet or Colony
  • A Branch or Field (Engineering, Medical, etc)

All Star Fleet DC members report to their CO, XO and to the Fleet Diplomatic Commander (FDC).  The FDC is the authority of the Diplomatic Corps and the JAG and, as such, is responsible for legal matters pertaining to Star Fleet Command and the fleet itself.

DUTIES of the DIPLOMATIC CORPS
Section 1: Introduction

All members of the DC & JAGR operate as advisors to his/her crew with regard to relations with other races, resolving legal issues, negotiating treaties, foreign policy situations, First Contact situations, and representing the Federation at formal functions.   Federation Ambassadors are members of the DC on an as-needed basis, the Federation High Council has the authority to appoint Ambassadors assigned to planets, starships, and starbases for the purpose of fostering peace and good relations with our neighbors.  It has been a long standing policy of Star Fleet to work with the civilian appointed Ambassadors.  Ambassadors may not serve as JAGR, and usually do not hold a rank.  All DC Officers are designated as the representative of the Starship in matters of Diplomacy and answers to the First Officer and/or the CO of the Starship.  They are Bridge Officers in a similar manner as the ship's counselor, but wear red uniforms.
All DC Officers must be familiar with a variety of areas:
  • History
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Millitary

and should understand how they affect a variety of situations.  A wide operations can occur in response to these areas and situations.  These operations occur within three general states of being:

  • peacetime competition,
  • conflict,
  • war.

DC Officers must be equally flexible and demonstrate initiative, agility, depth, synchronization, and improvisation to provide responsive legal services to his/her CO
Diplomatic Officers may or may not be involved in active combat duty as required.  The Commander has the right to take charge of the duties of the Diplomatic Officer whenever he or she wishes.  All members of the DC, and the JAGR may employ lesser diplomats and interns as part of his workforce.
Members of the DC may apply to become a representative of the JAG. Ambassadors may not become JAGR unless they are ranking Star Fleet officers. NCO's may not be JAGR unless they hold the rank of Warrant Officer or above.
To become a JAGR a member of the DC must request the position from the FDC who will then conduct an interview to determine if the officer is capable of the duties. If the FDC finds the officer capable then a short series of lessons will be given to the officer to instruct him/her on the duties of the JAGR.  Upon successful completion of these lessons the officer is given the title of JAG Representative for his/her ship with all the duties outlined here.

Section 2: Uses and Duties

DC members & the JAGR provides essential services in many different fields, including negotiation, conflict resolution, creation of treaties, representation, advice on diplomatic matters, military justice, planetary claims, litigation, operational law, interplanetary law, legal assistance, environmental law, and more.  The ranks of DC officers are determined by the CO/XO of each ship as normal.
Suggestions for using members of the DC:
1) NCOs:
  • Curators,
  • Archivists,
  • Alien Specialists,
  • Captain's Yeoman,
  • Assistants,
  • Paralegal/Researcher, etc.

Diplomatic NCO's report to the ship's DC and usually keep records, handle basic negotiations, perform research.

2) Commissioned officers:
  • Diplomatic Commander,
  • Diplomatic Officer,
  • Aide,
  • Records Officer,
  • Xenosociologist,
  • Historian,
  • etc.

Diplomatic Officers can participate and lead First Contact situations, resolve conflicts, negotiate treaties, maintain race relations, represent the UFP in official functions.

Section 3: Responsibilities of the Fleet Diplomatic Commander

The FDC will sit as the department head, and as such be a voting member of the Command Council.  The Commander will be responsible for:
(A) Maintaining the Fleet Diplomatic Pages - which should include:
  • A manifest of all members of the Diplomatic Corps and the ships on which they serve.
  • Directives and Treaties relating to Star Fleet and  the UFP. (Or links to them)
  • Federation/Star Fleet codes of conduct.
  • A list of races. (or link to them)
  • Links to related resources/pages.
  • Links to other Tango Fleet pages.
  • Paramount Disclaimer.
(B) Help develop and approve a curriculum for diplomatic cadets in TFA, and train officers wishing to become JAGR officers.

The curriculum for TFA should include:
  • Basic negotiation skills.
  • Race identification skills.

The instruction for JAGR officers should include the above plus additional courses in:

  • Basic trial/court Defense skills.
  • Basic trial/court Prosecution skills.
  • Basic judicial skills.
(C) Act as one of Tango Fleet's JAG officers for special trials.  All TF officers ranking Commodore or higher make up the other members.  They can act as JAG in any trial and overrule lesser judgments.  Court-martials involving officers of Lt. Commander or above require a trial by one or more of the special JAG judges.  They can overturn a ruling of a lesser JAGR.
(D) Ensure that all JAGR officers in the fleet meet minimum requirements to perform the duties outlined above for their ranks, and approve other DC officers for JAG duty.
The procedure for officer approval is as follows:
  • A Diplomatic Officer (or their CO, XO) would make a request to the FDC.
  • The FDC will interview the candidate by contact over E-mail or other methods to determine if he/she is able to meet the duties.
  • If the officer is deemed prepared, then the FDC will instruct the officer in the duties of the JAGR.
  • The FDC will review the results of the instruction courses and make a determination of the officers skills.


    • The FDC will either Approve or Deny the officer based on results. A JAGR may be of any rank, (NCO's excluded unless WO or above, Ambassadors excluded unless rank holders) and there can be multiple JAGR officers per ship.
NOTE: Not all Diplomatic Officers are members of the JAG, but all JAGR members are Diplomatic Officers!  Officers must be approved by the FDC as listed above before beginning any JAG duty.  Officers ranking Commodore or above may also approve candidates as outlined above IN THE FDC's ABSENCE, and should notify him/her upon return.
The JAGR can be called to Defend, prosecute and act as judge in some cases. All members of the DC may:
  • participate and/or lead First Contacts,
  • negotiate contracts and treaties.

The Fleet Admiralty reserves the right to conduct JAG trials of any officer at any time, and may overturn any judgment by a lower JAGR.

Section 4: Duties of the JAG Representative

The JAGR provides legal services in the form of professional advice, representation, support, research, training, and assistance designed to resolve legal issues.  Legal services benefit:
  • (a) Commanders (CO).  The CO is responsible for the good order, discipline, morale, and welfare of personnel.  He must command and employ his/her forces in accordance with the law.  The JAGR provides all CO's the legal services necessary to properly execute these responsibilities under the law, customs, and traditions of Star Fleet.
  • (b) Star Fleet Personnel.  The key to an organization's readiness is the individual persons morale.  The JAGR provides legal advice and representation (to personnel, their family members, and other authorized personnel) to maintain a high degree of personal readiness and morale.
All JAGR officers provide defense legal services to personnel to ensure fair and impartial justice within Star Fleet, and may also serve as prosecutors in some cases.  All members of the JAGR must be certified by the FDC as competent to perform legal services.  They represent personnel before courts-martial, administrative boards, and other proceedings.  They may also act as consulting counsel as required by law or regulation.
JAGR officers also provide judicial legal services to secure fair and impartial justice proceedings within Star Fleet. They may serve as military trial judges and preside over general courts-martial, (those involving NCO's, or officers ranking Lieutenant or lower, but not a department head.)  Special courts-martial are those involving any officer ranking Lt. Commander or above, and department heads. These must be handled by one (or more) of the approved Fleet JAG special judges listed above.  Each ship CO reserves the right to determine if, who and when a judge will be brought in to the game.  The case should be discussed prior to beginning by all people involved.  JAGR officers perform all judicial duties required or authorized by law and regulations. These duties are similar to those of planetary district court judges presiding over criminal cases.  Star Fleet trial judges also perform magistrate duties, such as issuing authorizations to search for and seize evidence based on probable cause.

Section 5: Areas of Legal Service
The JAGR provides legal services in seven functional areas.

1. Administrative Law.  Administrative law covers the statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions that govern the functioning, and command of Star Fleet. The JAGR must be able to interpret these, and provide the CO and staff advice and guidance.  Administrative law includes, but is not limited to:
  • (a) The power to command and control the installation (legal basis of command).
  • (b) Star Fleet assistance to civil authorities, which includes the use of personnel to assist planetary authorities, to restore and maintain public order, for emergencies and public safety; the loan of military resources; and the role of personnel in civil disturbance operations.
  • (c) Environmental law, which includes domestic (planetary, state, and local) and interplanetary environmental laws affecting the operations of an installation or organization.
  • (d) Star Fleet personnel law, which concerns personnel recruitment, mobilization, appointments, promotions, adverse actions, separations, and retirements.
  • (e) Line of duty investigations.
  • (f) Labor and employment law, which includes labor-management relations including grievances, arbitrations, and unfair labor practice charges.
  • (g) Government information practices, which include the Freedom of Information and the Privacy Acts.
  • (h) Standards of conduct, which include guidance governing prohibited activities and conflicts of interest involving active duty, civilian personnel, former employees, and retired active duty and civilian personnel of Star Fleet.
2. Claims. Involves the investigation, processing, administration and settlement of claims - both by and against Star Fleet.
(a) The bases for claims against Star Fleet may include, but is not limited to:
  • 1. Damage/injury caused by the negligent acts of Star Fleet personnel while on duty or on a mission.
  • 2. Damage or injury caused by non combat activities; (activities that have little parallel in civilian life.)
  • 3. Loss, damage, or destruction of property of personnel or civilian employees under Direct Authority of Star Fleet.
(b) The bases for claims in favor of Star Fleet may include, but is not limited to:
  • 1. The negligent or intentional damage to Federation property.
  • 2. Breach of contract.
  • 3. Possession of items declared illegal by the Federation.
3. Contract Law. (Contracting is the main method in which Star Fleet acquires goods and services from the private sector.) Every JAGR is involved in all phases of the acquisition process they provide advice concerning acquisition process and statutory and regulatory constraints involved. They also provide counsel on the acquisition of goods and services.
4. Criminal Law. Deals with the administration of Star Fleet justice. It includes the Federation Constitution, the Uniform Code of Starfleet Justice, implementing regulations, and judicial decisions.  Discipline, good order, and morale depend on a fair and properly administered Star Fleet justice system.  In the Star Fleet criminal law system:
  • (a) The CO is responsible for the administration of justice. Commanders must communicate directly with their JAG Rep about such matters.
  • (b) The JAGR advises the CO's on suspected violations, including those committed by enemy prisoners of war; they may also act as prosecutor in court-martial trials; and supervise the preparation of records for trial.
  • (c) The Star Fleet Trial Defense Service provides defense counsel to represent personnel before courts-martial, and other proceedings.
  • (d) The Star Fleet Trial Judiciary provides judges for general and special courts-martial as listed previously.
5. Interplanetary Law. Interplanetary agreements, interplanetary customary practices, and the general principles of law recognized by civilized worlds comprise interplanetary law. All JAGR advises the CO's and staff on:
  • (a) The rights and obligations of Star Fleet under interplanetary law.
  • (b) Negotiations with foreign governments.
  • (c) Criminal jurisdiction over Federation forces and personnel by foreign governments.
  • (d) Foreign Law. This includes advice on criminal law, civil law, environmental law, and labor law of host worlds where personnel are operating or have an interest.
  • (e) Legal liaison with the host worlds and other allied forces.
  • (f) Other interplanetary law matters to be determined.
6. Legal Assistance. The JAGR provides personal legal services to personnel, their family members, and other authorized personnel. This may include, but is not limited to:
  • (a) Domestic relations, which includes divorce, legal separation, annulment, custody, support obligations, and paternity.
  • (b) Wills and estates.
  • (c) Adoptions and name changes.
  • (d) Civil suits. The JAGR can explain the procedures and requirements of courts; will negotiate with adverse parties on the client's behalf; and can act as attorney, if required.
  • (e) Other services with approval of the FDC.
7. Operational Law. Operational law is the application of domestic, interplanetary, and foreign law to the planning, training, deployment, and employment of Star Fleet forces.  It includes, but is not limited to:
  • (a) Advise the CO, staff, and subordinate commanders on all relevant law matters, including status of forces, interplanetary agreements/treaties; and domestic law. These matters may include advice on:
    • 1. Operations plans and orders.
    • 2. Targets and weapons.
    • 3. The investigation and disposition of alleged violations (war crimes).
    • 4. Treatment of detainees, enemy prisoners of war, and refugees.
    • 5. The seizure and requisition of private properly for military use.
    • 6. The legal aspects of civil affairs operations.
  • (b) Prepare legal annexation orders.
  • (c) Review and interpret rules of engagement.
  • (d) Provide unit training on the law as required by treaty and regulation.