Recognizing Veterans Day with Judge Steven Bost

Recognizing Veterans Day with Judge Steven Bost

This Veterans Day, we are honoring those who have served. The following features At-Large Circuit Judge Steven Bost of the First Judicial Circuit, who also serves as a Military Judge - a rare and distinguished role in both civilian and military judicial systems. He shares his thoughts on his military background, his accomplishments, and more.

Please briefly describe your military background since enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. What is your current position/rank?

I completed Officer Candidate School over two summers during undergrad in 2002 and 2003. I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2003. Following law school, I reported to active duty for The Basic School in 2006. Over the next seven years, I filled many roles. I served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, legal assistance officer, law of war instructor, command legal advisor, and administrative law counsel. I served at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona; Al Taqaddum, Ramadi and Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and at Judge Advocate Division at the Pentagon. Since transitioning to the reserves in 2013 I have served as an administrative law attorney, law of war instructor, recruiting support officer, Naval Justice School instructor, and legal advisor for Marine Corps Forces Reserve. I am currently a reserve military judge. My rank is lieutenant colonel.

What inspired you to join the military?

My father, great uncle and great grandfather were/are Marines. I was born on July 4th at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. I always knew that I wanted to serve my country, and it would absolutely be as a United States Marine. My oldest son, Wiley, 19, is currently at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for boot camp. We will fly out to see him graduate just prior to Thanksgiving.

When you reflect on your time in the military, what accomplishments and/or challenges stand out to you?

Being a Marine is submitting 100 percent to something greater than yourself. The expectations placed on you are all encompassing - physically, mentally, morally, spiritually. The expectations are uncompromising. The culture is second to none. Earning my commission as a Marine Officer is my greatest accomplishment. Committing to continue to "earn it" every day serving alongside the best men and women this Country produces was my greatest challenge. The saying goes that you join the Marine Corps because you love your Country, you stay because you love Marines. Serving alongside my Marines - my enlisted Marines, my peers, my superiors - was an absolute gift.

What led you to pursue law, and eventually become a judge?

I was an argumentative kid by nature. I loved to read. It seemed like a good fit. I had already begun the process to be a Marine Officer when I was in undergrad before choosing law school. When I learned that I could be a Marine AND an attorney, I was all in.

Being a Marine Officer and a Judge are very similar. Both swear to defend the Constitution. Both should be held to the highest of ethical, moral, and professional standards. Both should put selfless service and integrity above all else. The Marine Corps Leadership Characteristics are Justice, Judgement, Decisiveness, Integrity, Dependability, Tact, Initiative, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Enthusiasm. The characteristics that I believe make a good judge were already very familiar to me. The challenge - the commitment - never really ends.

You are one of only three reserve Marine Judge Advocates who also serve as a civilian judge. Of those, you are one of only two currently presiding as a Military Judge, marking a rare and distinguished dual role in both civilian and military judicial systems. Can you explain the process it took to become a Marine Judge Advocate?

The Marine Corps is unique among the services. Whether you are a ground officer, aviator, or attorney, you go through the same selection and training pipeline - competitive selection board, followed by Officer Candidate School. If you earn a commission, you then go to The Basic School for six months to learn to be a provisional rifle platoon commander. Only then do you go to your respective "school house" - in my case, Naval Justice School, to get your specialized training before reporting as a Marine Judge Advocate for your first assignment. We are not a separate "JAG Corps" as in the Army, Navy and Air Force. We are first and foremost Marine Officers - that also happen to be attorneys.

What is it like to serve as both a Military Judge and a civilian judge? How does one job influence the other, and vice versa?

It is an incredible honor, and I am incredibly fortunate to have this unique opportunity. I think serving as both has helped me grow as both - each benefits the other. They are different in many ways. The focus of the military justice system is above all else "good order and discipline" among the servicemembers. But this is not at the expense of the rights of the individual. In many respects, a defendant in the military enjoys greater protections and due process than a civilian defendant. My four years of experience as a civilian judge prior to becoming a military judge should allow me to recommend some alternative administrative processes, applying some best practices from Illinois. Most active duty and reserve military judges only serve in those roles for three to four years, so I hope that any comparative institutional knowledge and experience would be helpful.

How do you celebrate Veterans Day, and what does it mean to you?

The Marine Corps Birthday is November 10th. So, both the 10th and 11th (Veterans Day) are on my mind. This year we are celebrating our 250th birthday and I do not think I can truly explain what a big deal this is. The Marine Corps Birthday is every Marine's birthday. So, to the question, on the Marine Corps Birthday I will send and receive probably close to 50 texts of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINE!" These will be my former enlisted Marines, my former peers, my former superiors, friends, and family who have all earned the title of Marine. They are all veterans. All but a few have left active duty and are now faithfully serving and improving their communities in their respective civilian fields - law, politics, policy, ministry, education, law enforcement. They are applying the core values instilled by their service of honor, courage and commitment on a daily basis. Veterans make this Country better. This is why I celebrate Veterans Day.

What would you like others to keep in mind when recognizing veterans?

When someone says, "Thank you for your service," I always try to respond, "You were worth it." Military service is driven by an ideal that at a fundamental level there must be people willing to risk their time, their comfort, and potentially their lives to preserve and protect the freedoms and rights we have long recognized as being endowed by our Creator. It is not for everyone. Not everyone is capable. But I think veterans understand that those that are capable have a moral duty to do so and they would not commit to that duty unless they believed that this Country and their fellow Americans were worth it.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Happy Veterans Day and Happy Birthday, Marines!