32 CFR § 776.79 - The formal complaint.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t32/s776.79"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "32 CFR § 776.79 - The formal complaint."
title_number: 32
title_name: "National Defense"
section_number: "776.79"
section_name: "The formal complaint."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS RULES"
part_number: "776"
part_name: "PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF ATTORNEYS PRACTICING UNDER THE COGNIZANCE AND SUPERVISION OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "10 U.S.C. 806, 806a, 826, 827, 1044; Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 2012; U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990; Department of Defense Instruction 1442.02 (series); Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5430.27 (series), Responsibility of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps for Supervision and Provision of Certain Legal Services."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 68389, Nov. 4, 2015; 80 FR 73991, Nov. 27, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "776"
---
# 776.79 The formal complaint.
(a) The formal complaint shall:
(1) Be in writing and be signed by the complainant;
(2) State that the complainant has personal knowledge, or has otherwise received reliable information indicating, that:
(i) The covered attorney concerned is, or has been, engaged in misconduct that demonstrates a lack of integrity, that constitutes a violation of this part or the Code of Judicial Conduct or a failure to meet the ethical standards of the profession; or
(ii) The covered attorney concerned is ethically, professionally, or morally unqualified to perform his or her duties; and
(3) Contain a complete, factual statement of the acts or omissions constituting the substance of the complaint, as well as a description of any attempted resolution with the covered attorney concerned. Supporting statements, if any, should be attached to the complaint.
(b) A complaint may be initiated by any person, including the Administrative Law Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) Administrative Law Division (Code 13) or the Judge Advocate Research and Civil Law Branch, Office of the SJA to CMC, HQMC (JAR).