GENESEO, N.Y. Apr. 10, 2024 – Captain James Kemnitz was formally recognized for his dedication and service to our nation at the Livingston County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
A Captain in the United States Army, Kemnitz was commissioned through Niagara University's Army ROTC Program in 2013 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. With an education delay, he then attended Notre Dame Law School and was accepted into the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps in 2016. After assessing in the top 10% of his JAG Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum in New York.
Kemnitz was assigned first as an Administrative Law Attorney advising the Commanding General and Garrison Commander on contract, fiscal and ethics matters and administrative investigations. He was then sent from Division to 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team as an Operational Law Attorney, advising 47 command teams on the law of war, rules of engagement and operational and administrative investigations. Following that assignment, he served as the Brigade's trial counsel, prosecuting assault, drug, sexual assault and child victim criminal offenses at military courts-martial.
Kemnitz's motions and oral arguments were repeatedly quoted in precedent-setting decisions from the Army Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces.
After four years of Active Duty, Kemnitz transitioned to the Army Reserve Corps as a Legal Assistance Attorney in the 7th Legal Operations Detachment and was ultimately medically retired in 2021.
For his military service, Kemnitz received two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Today, he continues his passion for justice and public service at the Livingston County Public Defender's Office as a family court attorney and is actively involved with the Matthew Cleary American Legion Post 255 and the Caledonia War Memorial. He and his wife, Joanne, live in Caledonia with their three boys, Michael, Christopher and Theodore.
Are you interested in nominating a deserving former member of our armed forces for the Livingston County Veteran of the Month or learning more about veteran-specific events? If so, please visit the newly-launched LivCo Vets website.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.