Marine Corps Judge Advocate Returns to Mizzou During Homecoming Week to Judge Opening Statements Competition

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the midst of University of Missouri Homecoming celebrations, Marine Corps Officer Selection Team Springfield partnered with Mizzou to host an opening statements competition, highlighted by the return of an alumnus serving as an active-duty Marine Corps judge advocate.

Capt. Jeffrey Johnson, a Mizzou alumnus and practicing Marine judge advocate, returned to his alma mater during homecoming week to give a presentation on the opportunities available as a Marine Corps judge advocate and to judge the Marine Corps opening statements competition. The event gave law students the opportunity to test their courtroom capabilities before legal professionals and Marine Corps leaders in a courtroom environment. Prior to the competition, Johnson hosted a class talk and briefing session. Drawing on his active-duty experience, he provided students with an inside look into military jurisprudence and the daily responsibilities of a Marine Corps Judge Advocate, from prosecuting and defending courts-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to advising commanders on operational law.

For Johnson, stepping into the role of evaluator for the opening statements competition allowed him to see the courtroom from a completely different perspective and pass on his knowledge to the next generation of attorneys.

“It was a great experience,” Johnson said. “I have always been on the other side of being either the prosecution or defense, so it was fun to be the judge in this case and give that feedback, using my experience in the Marine Corps and the things I have learned as an attorney to help the students out.”

The competition challenged participants to deliver compelling opening statements in a mock trial setting, evaluating their ability to analyze facts rapidly, build persuasive case theories, and maintain courtroom composure. The unique aspect of this challenge is that it was inspired by real-world scenarios commonly addressed within the military justice system, giving students a rare opportunity to practice military law. “As a law student, there are surprisingly few opportunities to practice giving opening statements, especially if you’re not on the school’s trial team,” said Chase Boggs, a law student who competed in the competition. “Allowing students to get genuine feedback on an opening statement is invaluable. Not only were we able to receive feedback from a Marine Corps judge advocate, but we were able to receive feedback from a Marine Officer who would be on the jury for a trial like this.”

Boggs is no stranger to the military, especially the Marine Corps. The second-year law student at the University of Missouri School of Law is a Marine Corps veteran who attended the class talk with Capt. Johnson before competing in the event. He credited his Marine Corps service and his work in law school for his success in winning the competition.

“Not only was I able to connect with the jurors in the trial, but I was also able to connect with the Marines in the fact pattern,” Boggs said. “Law school has taught me the legal connections necessary to make within the trial, but being a Marine taught me how to connect with Marines.”

Seeing that unique connection firsthand was exactly what made the trip back to Columbia so rewarding for the officer who started it all.

For Johnson, stepping back onto campus during Mizzou’s homecoming added personal significance to the mission. “Being a Mizzou grad, a lawyer, and a Marine Corps Officer, it was great to come back and participate in the opening statements competition,” Johnson said. “It allowed me to speak with the law students, share my experience, and connect with them. I never met with a Marine Corps recruiter when I was in law school, and I wish I had. I love Mizzou and was excited to come and speak with the students here.”

The competition concluded with a plaque being presented to the opening statements competition winner and students sticking around to talk with Captain Johnson and the local recruiters about the Marine Corps Judge Advocate Program. For Officer Selection Team Springfield, hosting these events is about showing law students that the Marine Corps offers immediate, hands-on courtroom experience. Rather than waiting years to lead a trial, Marine judge advocates often prosecute or defend cases right out of law school—a career accelerator that the Springfield team actively works to highlight when looking for the next generation of Marines, next generation of Marine Officers, and next generation of Marine Judge Advocates.

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