Maryland National Guard names only second military judge in their history

by Maj. Cody Starken

DUNDALK, Md. – The Maryland National Guard invested its second military judge in its 390-year history at the CSM Jerome M. Grollman Readiness Center, December 8, 2024, becoming one of only 12 federally recognized judges throughout the National Guard.

Maryland Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, the adjutant general for Maryland, invested Lt Col. Michael G. Terhune as the new military judge of the Maryland National Guard during a formal ceremony attended by Terhune’s family as well as Maryland Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Amy Kremser, director of the MDNG Joint Staff, Maryland Army National Guard Brig. Gen Andrew Collins, assistant adjutant general for Army, Maryland Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty, assistant adjutant general for Air, and Maryland Air National Guard Col. Jason Van Wagner, State Staff Judge Advocate for the Air Force.

“I have so much to be thankful for and know each of you had a part in me being here today,” said Terhune. “I’d like to thank my family. I couldn’t have done this without their support.”
Terhune joined the Maryland Army National Guard in 2012, commissioning directly as a lieutenant in Judge Advocate General Corps. He spent the next 12 years serving in various judge advocate roles throughout his career, such as trial counsel, operational law attorney, brigade judge advocate, and deputy staff judge advocate for Maryland Joint Forces Headquarters before becoming the second invested judge for the Maryland National Guard.

“Those experiences prepared you well for the challenges and complexities of being a military judge,” said Birckhead. “I ask that you remember this that leadership is more than just the rank or the position, it is about assessing needs showing up being there, inspiring others, even when times get tough, good, bad or indifferent.”

An investiture ceremony is about welcoming a judge to the bench and Maryland Army National Guard said Col. Marci Sam, Maryland National Guard’s first invested military judge in 2019. Sam, who now serves as the senior lawyer for the state as the State Staff Judge Advocate, also spoke during Terhune’s ceremony.

“It’s important to note that becoming a military judge is an exceptional accomplishment,” said Sam. “To even be considered for the assignment, a judge advocate must have experience on both sides of the aisle.”

The investiture allows Terhune the ability to try cases under Maryland law in state courts-martial under Title 13A of Maryland’s Safety Code in his regular role with the state in addition to being certified as a Title 10 military judge in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Cases Terhune tries for the National Guard will result in State convictions for servicemember misconduct when not federalized.

“This honor marks Terhune’s competency as a both a federal and state military judge, but also brings legitimacy to courts-martial in general for the state,” said Sam.

Birckhead and Sam presented Terhune his judge’s gavel in front of the audience at the conclusion of the ceremony as a symbol of his new office and independent responsibilities to the Maryland Army National Guard and its personnel.

“It is a very special moment, and I hope I can live up to your expectations and administer justice fairly,” said Terhune.