First Wednesday Series: The Legal Authority of the Illinois National Guard

The first nine months of 2020 have been particularly busy for the National Guard throughout the country. States and their respective National Guard units have had to deal with six of the all-hazards that they train and prepare for as a part of their state missions. In 2020 the Illinois National Guard has performed various duties, including: cyber-election assistance to the State Board of Elections, COVID-19 pandemic, flood duty, and Domestic Disturbance Duty simultaneously. Other states such as California, Oregon, and Washington have also dealt with forests Fires and earthquakes, and states like Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi have had to deal with several hurricanes.

There are various legal authorities that authorize the National Guard to respond to natural disasters and hazards. During this virtual presentation on Zoom, Colonel Martin Green, judge advocate for the Illinois National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, will cover the various state and federal legal authority for use of the National Guard and the various duty statuses that accompany the legal authority. Green will also cover aspects of the National Guard’s Domestic Operations and the framework and analysis for missions.

This program will provide an understanding of the technical and legal issues of today.