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U.S. military orders legality

The legality of U.S. military orders and the obligation of servicemembers to follow or refuse them, particularly in relation to 'patently illegal' orders.

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Feb 5, 2026

What precedent cases interpret illegal orders and obedience in U.S. military law?

military law draws a line between disciplined obedience and criminal responsibility: longstanding Anglo‑American precedent and modern Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) doctrine require serviceme...