Judge Lawrence B. Hagel
Judge Lawrence B. Hagel was appointed a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims by President George W. Bush in December 2003. He became Chief Judge on August 7, 2015.
Judge Hagel assumed Senior status as a Retired Recall eligible judge on October 8, 2016.
Immediately before his appointment to the court, Judge Hagel served as the General Counsel of the
Paralyzed Veterans of America where he performed the normal duties of a corporate counsel. Additionally,
while at the Paralyzed Veterans he was responsible for developing the organization's policy and procedures
for litigating cases at the then newly created U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He has represented
individual veterans at all stages of the appellate process. He also filed amicus curiae briefs on behalf
of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, joined by other organizations of note, in the U.S. Supreme Court
in the case of Brown v. Gardner, on behalf of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
AMVETS, the Blinded Veterans Association, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Judge Hagel also created the
structure and was a founding member of the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program. He served on its
Executive Board from its creation in 1992 until his appointment to the Court.
Judge Hagel's military experience includes graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy and service in the U.S. Marine Corps
as an infantry platoon commander, a headquarters company commander, and a field advisor to an infantry battalion
of the Army of the Republic of Viet Nam during an extended tour in Viet Nam. He then attended law school at
the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law and after graduation remained in the Marine Corps serving
as a Judge Advocate. He later received a masters of law (labor law) with highest honors from the
National Law Center of The George Washington University. During his time as a Judge Advocate he
represented individuals charged with crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and
before administrative and medical boards. He was also appointed Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Judge Hagel appeared on behalf of the Department of the Navy in U.S. district courts throughout
the country, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Ninth Circuit, the Federal Labor Relations Authority,
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and in labor arbitration. Judge Hagel was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon,
the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.
Among other professional activities, Judge Hagel has served as a member of the Administrative Conference
of the United States (1995); Steering Committee, District of Columbia Bar Administrative Law and
Agency Practice Section (1999-2003); U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Rules Advisory
Committee (1992-2003); and Federal Bar Association, Veterans Law Committee Section, of which he was the Chair,
1994-1995. He is currently an emeritus member of the George Mason Inn of Court.
Judge Hagel is admitted to practice before the highest courts of Iowa, California, and the District of Columbia.
He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal, Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits;
the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Judge Hagel was born in Washington, Indiana.