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Help us fight for service members' rights so they can do their best work in defense of our nation.

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Help us fight for service members' rights so they can do their best work in defense of our nation.

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Mission

Combined Federal Campaign

Dr. Dwight Stirling

A nonprofit think tank dedicated to strengthening the legal protections of those who serve our nation in uniform.

Dr. Dwight Stirling

Combined Federal Campaign

Dr. Dwight Stirling

Founder and CEO of the Center for Law and Military Policy, Dr. Stirling is also a law professor and reserve JAG officer.

Combined Federal Campaign

Combined Federal Campaign

Combined Federal Campaign

We are proud to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign.   Charity No. 58905.

OUR STORY IS GROWING

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america IS Taking notice of this unique think tank

America's First Feres Scholar

Growing public support & recognition

Growing public support & recognition

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Holding a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, Dr. Stirling is the country's first and only scholar to write, and defend, a dissertation on the devastating impact of the Feres Doctrine on America's military.  Read Dr. Stirling's doctoral dissertation: "The Feres Doctrine: A Comprehensive Legal Analysis."  To see all of our articles on the Feres doctrine, click here.

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Growing public support & recognition

Growing public support & recognition

Growing public support & recognition

Cottie and Dwight

California Assemblywoman  Cottie Petrie-Norris presents to Dr. Stirling, founder and CEO of the Center for Law & Military Policy  with a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Assembly.

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Los Angeles Times

Growing public support & recognition

Los Angeles Times

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Dr. Stirling joined after 9/11. He became the top prosecutor in the California National Guard. His courage and willingness to speak truth to power was recently chronicled in the Los Angeles Times.

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An amazing team

Rep. Speier invites Dr. Stirling to Testify

Los Angeles Times

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The Center for Law & Military Policy is a think tank with a team including the top military, legal and scholarly minds in the nation. It is so important in today's times to fight for the rights of our brave service members.

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We fight for their rights

Rep. Speier invites Dr. Stirling to Testify

Rep. Speier invites Dr. Stirling to Testify

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Our focus is Feres but our mission is to restore, protect and defend the legal rights of our brave active-duty service members. We fight for them because they are ready to fight for our rights and freedoms. 

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Rep. Speier invites Dr. Stirling to Testify

Rep. Speier invites Dr. Stirling to Testify

Rep. Speier invites Dr. Stirling to Testify

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As the Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Jackie Speier has invited Dr. Stirling to testify before her committee.  Read Dr. Stirling's testimony.

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A Unique Think Tank working to restore and protect legal rig

Who We Are

The Center for Law and Military Policy is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to strengthening the legal protections of those who serve our nation in uniform.


Led by Dr. Dwight Stirling, a law professor and reserve JAG officer, the CLMP seeks to change policies that harm everyday service members. As the co-founder and former CEO of Veterans Legal Institute, Dr. Stirling has seen first-hand just how vulnerable military personnel are, particularly the rank and file who enlist directly out of high school.  Yet while these brave men and women risk their lives keeping America free, their own rights are often ignored or even discarded altogether.  This is not right.  Serving in uniform should not make a person a second-class citizen.


Read the CLMP's policy initiative to create a cause of action for survivors of military sexual trauma in California.


Read Dr. Stirling's groundbreaking speech on the Feres Doctrine, explaining why the rule prohibiting civil suits by service members is unconscionable in the military sexual assault context.


Overriding Mission


The Center for Law and Military Policy conducts research and produces educational material in order to strengthen the legal protections of service members and veterans. Our work helps to close the civil-military gap, the civilian population’s limited understanding of military life and culture.  Less than 1% of the country are in the military in any form.  The growing divide between the two communities, civilian and military, is harmful and inconsistent with America's founding values. Through rigorous scholarship and timely educational programs,  the CLMP seeks to bridge the gap between service member and civilian, deepening understanding, appreciation, and consideration on both sides. 


Empowering Victims of Military Sexual Assault (MST) - One of the CLMP's primary initiatives is to increase the legal rights of MST survivors.  As widely reported, rape and other forms of assault against male and female service members occur at an alarming rate within the military.  Statistics show, for instance, that nearly half of all women are assaulted in one form or fashion during their time in uniform.  Yet MST victims are unable to sue their assailants in a court of law.  Prevailing judicial policy prohibits any civil suit pertaining to harm that occurs "incident to service," a policy known as the Feres Doctrine.  The result is that the only category of Americans who have no standing to sue when sexually assaulted are those who serve in the military.  Such a policy is unconscionable and represents a stain on our national conscience.  The rules should be modified to allow MST survivors to hold their assailants accountable in a court of law.  

Platforms

The Journal for Law, Policy, Military Affairs - The JLPMA is an online-only law journal that addresses the legal and policy issues facing service members and veterans.  The only independent academic platform for military-related scholarship, the JLPMA's objective, unbiased articles are grounded in reflection, thoughtfulness, and reform.  To view, click here.


Sound Off -  Sound Off is an online platform for the discussion of issues facing military service members and veterans.  To view, click here.

Feres Doctrine Public Service Announcement

Help Our Cause

Our work and accomplishments are only possible because of the generous donations from the people who selflessly support our mission. Make a tax-deductible contribution today.

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Copyright © 2018 Center for Law and Military Policy  - The CLMP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  EIN - 83-1587085