TARIN KOT, Afghanistan — Afghanistan, with its mosaic of ethnicities hidden within a rugged landscape, requires the firm establishment of the rule of law.
Reserve U.S. Army Judge Advocate Capt. Jeffrey C. Blumenauer deployed as a rule of law attorney with the 3rd Infantry Division, Regional Command South. He is assigned to Combined Team Uruzgan.
At home in Tampa, Fla., he runs a private practice, but in Afghanistan he is responsible for planning, coordinating and ensuring the execution of rule of law in Uruzgan.
The legal system of Afghanistan consists of Islamic, statutory and customary rules. Since the fall of the Taliban, the legal system continues to evolve with the development of the state.  
Blumenauer said rule of law is a dynamic concept within itself, but is basically an appropriate and legitimate system of justice.
“Though not perfect, the justice system in Uruzgan is functioning, and a measure of formal justice is accessible to most of the population," he said.
“Criminals and insurgents are being arrested, based on evidence collected at the scene of a crime, and being taken to trial with convictions being obtained.”  
After the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan's judicial system was fragmented, with conflicts between the core legal organizations and a destroyed infrastructure.