On Friday, June 1, 2007 the Northeast Ohio Chapter and the National Security Network hosted an event entitled “Baghdad Law: An Army Lawyer in the Green Zone.” The discussion featured Captain Brendan Mackin, Esq., a Judge Advocate, Trial Counsel with the 37th Brigade Combat Team of the Ohio Army Reserve National Guard. In this discussion, Capt. Mackin shared an overview of the many questions JAGs face on a daily basis in Iraq, including: Which set of laws applies? Does due process exist in war? How do we treat enemy combatants? and many more. Capt. Mackin also shared his personal reflections on life as a military lawyer, and answered questions from the audience.

Capt. Mackin was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom as Trial Counsel with the 16th Engineer Brigade, with attachment to Task Force 134 Detainee Operations with the Combined Review & Release Board and the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. He also served with the Legal Operations Center of the Special Troops Battalion for the 4th Infantry Division.