Editorial: Restoring faith

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Editorial: Restoring faith

For the past year and a half, officers and enlisted airmen have been waiting to see how the Air Force would handle the case of Col. Michael D. Murphy, former commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, who allegedly practiced law without a license for more than 20 years while in uniform.

Their faith in the judicial system was badly shaken in two previous high-profile cases. In December 2004, Maj. Gen. Thomas Fiscus, the Air Force’s top lawyer, faced nonjudicial punishment for inappropriate romantic relationships with subordinates. He received a reduction in rank to colonel, a reprimand and a fine.

The perception that Fiscus received preferential treatment because he was a general officer and a JAG damaged morale.

Just a year later, the Air Force again disappointed its supporters by allowing Brig. Gen. Richard Hassan, former head of the Air Force Senior Leadership Management Office, to retire as a colonel after he was accused of sexually harassing and mistreating women in his office. He, too, received nonjudicial punishment.

The announcement this week that Murphy will face general court-martial for charges of conduct unbecoming, larceny and failure to obey a general regulation is welcome. Even more gratifying is the decision to have Army Col. Stephen R. Henley, the Army’s chief trial judge, preside over the case.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_editorial_faith_041408/