When Overholt retired in mid-1989, President George H.W. Bush nominated Suter to be made Judge Advocate General of the Army. While his nomination was pending in the Senate, Suter, as the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, was made the acting Judge Advocate General. After a number of months, his and other nominations were returned with criticism of the organization. JAG personnel actions from 1982 were linked to allegations of unlawful command influence in the 3rd Armored Division. Ironically, the Court of Military Review under Chief Judge Suter reversed a number of court-martial convictions arising from these allegations.