Not many children know what they want to be when they grow up; and far less know what steps to take to achieve their career goals. But Captain Justin Hayes, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, currently serving at Fort Sill, was not like most children.
“Since I was 9 years old, it was literally the only thing I wanted to do in my life,” said Hayes.
While his dad, a Sergeant First Class for the Army’s Military Police, was stationed in Germany, Hayes recalls a fourth-grade career day presentation from a fellow classmate’s father who was a JAG officer and decided that’s what he wanted to become.
Later, as a student at Millington Central High School in Millington, Tenn., a naval base and suburb of Memphis, Hayes became involved with the Navy JROTC program where he was promoted to the most senior cadet rank of Cadet Commander, served as the Battalion Supply Officer, and commanded several drill team and color guard performances. He also founded and commanded the JROTC’s academic team and was captain of the school’s Knowledge Bowl team.
Scholastics and JROTC training were not all the high schooler did. Besides being active with the high school concert choir and jazz choir, Hayes helped others around the community. He petitioned to have the Millington Public Library reopened after it had been shut down due to lack of funding. When the library reopened under new management, Hayes was one of its first employees as a Library Page at age 16. He then volunteered as the director of the library’s Teen Advisory board and hosted free professional résumé writing workshops for adults.
After graduating high school in 2007, Hayes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Memphis in 2011. Here, he spent his first two years as a Midshipman in the Navy ROTC CPT Justin Hayes program where he was the assistant Public Affairs Officer and very active with the color guard and drill team.
Building on his career path, Hayes studied law at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School in Lansing, earning a J.D. in 2014 and an LL.M. in Homeland and National Security Law the next year.
In law school, Hayes served as the Associate Judicial Advisor, “answering matters of criminal procedure, rules of evidence, and rules of ethics,” for the Girls State program in Michigan for three sessions. The week-long initiative run by the American Legion Auxiliary brings high school junior girls from around the state of Michigan to Lansing to form a simulated state government and try judicial cases.
“In law school, I joined the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity,” Hayes said. “I was the Student Dean for the Percy J. Power Senate at my school and at the same time was the Master Liaison for the Supreme Senate, our governing body.” Hayes also served as Senator on the Student Bar Association and Associate Justice on the Judicial Board. He was also a Teaching Assistant for Property Law, and it was during one of those sessions where he first met his wife, Kersten.
“After I graduated law school, I stayed on as Master Scholar of Delta Theta Phi for two terms,” said Hayes. “I currently serve as the Master Inspector for Delta Theta Phi as well as the International Editor-in-Chief for The Adelphia Law Journal.”
Also a Freemason, Hayes belongs to Okemos Lodge #252, Okemos, Mich., where he formerly filled in as Senior Deacon and served as the Junior Warden. “We make good men better,” said Hayes. “We do a lot of charitable activities for our schools and our communities.”
In addition to supporting charities around the community, with the Freemasons, Hayes has worked with others on public speaking, developing inner character and enhancing their ability to treat people equally.
In 2014, Hayes passed the Michigan Bar exam while continuing his LL.M. classes then served as a Deputy Probate Register for the Ingham County Probate Court. Later that year, he opened his own general law practice in Lansing, Mich., with Kersten, and was on the court-appointed attorneys list for Ingham County courts.
After three years of private practice, Hayes fulfilled his childhood mission. Joining the Army on October 8, 2017, as a First Lieutenant, Hayes reported to Fort Benning, Ga. for the JAG Corps Direct Commission Course followed by the JAG Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Va.
In May 2018, two months after arriving at his first station, Fort Sill, he was promoted to Captain. His first assignment was as an administrative law attorney. He is now serving as trial counsel for the Fort Sill Garrison, the Army’s only Personnel Control Facility, and the 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
With a passion for law, and the ability to connect with youths, Hayes volunteered to serve as a legal advisor and judge for the Comanche County Teen Court program – a county juvenile crime prevention initiative. “When I first arrived here, one of the more senior captains approached me and said, ‘I think you have the personality that would be a good fit for the Teen Court program.”
To relieve their tension during Teen Court jury deliberation, Hayes likes to visit with the defendants, learning about what their interests, goals and even hobbies. “I let them know that they still have value,” he added. “They are in trouble, but it’s not the end of the world. Even though I’m sitting on the bench – which is intimidating to them – I’m still treating them like people and finding common ground.”
“This is a rather unique program. I haven’t seen a Teen Court-styled program before, but I would like to see one around wherever I go next,” said Hayes.