Jeff Blackett

Jeffrey Blackett (born 20 May 1955) is a British judge and former Royal Navy officer in the rank of Commodore. He is the Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces and among the cases over which he presided was that of "Marine A". He is the chief disciplinary officer at the Rugby Football Union and conducted an investigation into the Bloodgate scandal. He has been a Senior Circuit Judge since 2005.

Blackett was born on 20 May 1955. He read law at University College London. In 1983, he was called to the bar.

Military career

Blackett was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1978 with seniority from 1 June 1978. He was promoted to lieutenant commander on 1 June 1986, and to commander on 30 June 1991. On 30 June 1998, he was promoted to captain. Having been an acting commodore, on 1 July 2003 he was promoted to commodore. His final appointment was as Director of Naval Legal Services.

He retired from the Royal Navy on 1 November 2004.

Judiciary career

On 2 February 2001, Blackett was appointed a Recorder, thereby becoming a part-time Circuit Judge. On 28 October 2004, he was promoted to full-time Circuit Judge. On 1 November 2004, he was appointed Judge Advocate General. He was the Court Martial Judge in the Sgt Blackman trial which was criticized by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. He was elected a Bencher of Gray's Inn in July 2008. In 2010, he became an honorary Professor of law at the University of Nottingham.