Associate Dean Schenck Appointed to US Court of Military Commission Review


October 28, 2019

Associate Dean Lisa Schenck stands with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, holding Dean Schenck's award for being appointed.

Associate Dean Lisa M. Schenck was invested and sworn as a US Court of Military Commission Review appellate judge during an investiture on October 17, 2019. Held at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Dean Schenck was sworn in with five other judges. The President nominated her to the military commission appellate court, the Senate confirmed her, and the President appointed her in August.

"I'm honored to continue serving my country by serving on the US Court of Military Commission Review alongside these esteemed judges," Dean Schenck said. "I'm thankful that GW Law supports my desire to pursue this work outside of the classroom, and I'm ready to get to work."

A military commission is a military court of law traditionally used to try law of war and other offenses. A non-US citizen who has engaged in violations of the law of war or who has purposefully, materially, and unlawfully supported hostility against the United States, its coalition partners, or was a part of al Qaeda is subject to trial by military commission under the Military Commissions Act of 2009.

The Secretary of Defense or his designee appoints the Chief Judge of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary. The Chief Judge then details a military judge to each case referred to trial.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gave remarks at the investiture and presented the new judges with their appointment certificates.

"Your prior service is both extensive and commendable, and I have no doubt that this court will benefit immensely from the appointment of judges who have already demonstrated such a deep love of this great nation," Justice Thomas said. "This is especially true given the weighty and grave matters that have been committed to your care. Matters that go to the very heart of this country's security and survival. Your collective experience in the combat zones, on the bench, and as officers of the Judge Advocate General's Court have prepared you well for this particularly important role."

Dean Schenck has a long and prolific history of serving as a judge in various US military appellate courts.

Dean Schenck joined GW Law in 2009 after serving in the US Army for more than 25 years. She initially served as a Signal Corps Officer and then as a judge, lawyer, and educator in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 2002, Dean Schenck was appointed to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals as a military judge. She was the first woman appointed as a Senior Judge on that court, where she served until she retired.

Dean Schenck concurrently served as an Associate Judge on the US Court of Military Commission Review after her appointment by the Secretary of Defense in 2007. Dean Schenck retired in 2008 as a US Army colonel and became the Senior Adviser to the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services.