After 1892 the role of Judge Advocate General became a judicial rather than a ministerial office; at first it was combined with the President of the Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division before being made fully independent in 1905.
The judges control the practice and procedure, give rulings on legal matters, and sum up the evidence for the jury (known as a "board").
The Judge Advocate General's office holds cases deposited the originals of all records of proceedings, which are kept for at least six years.
Historically the Judge Advocate General had responsibility for prosecuting cases as well as for summoning and supervising the court.
In 1923 moves were made to separate responsibility for prosecutions from the judicial responsibilities of the Judge Advocate General's office; complete separation was achieved 25 years later with the establishment of the Directorate of Army Legal Services in the War Office (and a parallel Directorate in the Air Ministry).
The Judge Advocate General has the authority to be the trier of fact for all cases, set rules, standards, procedures, and regulations for the Military courts of the United Kingdom.
[4] As of 21 July 2008 the experience needed to qualify was reduced in line with a general move to broaden diversity in the judiciary.