Hymn to Freedom is the authorized March of the Canadian Forces
Legal Branch. In 1982, the Branch received a musical standard: “When I,
Good Friends, Was Call'd to the Bar.” In 2012, the Branch March was
changed to the tune of Hymn to Freedom, composed by celebrated
Canadian Pianist Oscar Peterson.
The Legal Branch (French: Branche des services légaux) is a personnel
branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It primarily deals with the
Canadian Forces' legal affairs. Unlike most branches, legal officers are
accepted only through the Direct-Entry Training Program, and must have
a degree in law as well as be a member of a Canadian provincial Bar.
The motto of the legal branch is "Fiat Justitia", which is a Latin phrase,
meaning "Let justice be done". Historically in England, a warrant for a
writ of error in Parliament or later a petition of right in the courts could be
brought only after the king, or on his behalf the Home Secretary, had
endorsed fiat justitia on a petition for such a warrant. It was a means of
granting leave to appeal by exercise of the royal prerogative
The history of the Canadian Forces Legal Branch is directly tied to
Canada’s development as a nation. The emergence of a tough and
effective Canadian military force was highlighted during the Boer War, feeding into the young nation’s desire for greater independence from Great Britain. As Canada began to take steps towards greater political and military independence, Sir Frederick Borden, the Minister of Defence and Militia in the government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, appointed Colonel (later Major-General) Henry Smith as the first Canadian Judge Advocate General on October 1, 1911. General Smith held the position of Judge Advocate General through most of the First World War, assisted by a small cadre of officers. This structure was formalized on February 28, 1918, with the establishment of the Legal Branch of the Department of Militia and Defence. Since that time, military legal officers have served across Canada and around the world as an integral part of the Canadian military establishment.
The Military Law Centre on the grounds of the Royal Military College of Canada in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu QC which is staffed with nine military lawyers, oversees the education of officers and troops in legal matters ranging from the Forces' own code of conduct to the laws of war. It trains military lawyers and advises Ottawa on matters of policy and doctrine. The centre integrates legal education into the regular training that Forces members undergo and establishes its growing importance within the military hierarchy.
Selected RMC cadets participate in Law Of Armed Conflict international Competitions each fall with cadets from USAFA, USMA, USNA, and USCGA. In the Spring of 2008, RMC cadets were selected to participate in a competition on the Law of Armed Conflict at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Sanremo, Italy.
