It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone. 2025 was an exciting year filled with battles won, new clients we were proud to represent, and the continued growth of our law practice. Through it all, MJA has worked diligently to provide our clients with the highest quality representation and to fulfill our mission of Defending Those Who Defend Us ®.
Court-Martial Defense and Appeals
MJA’s court-martial practice saw incredible success in 2025 resulting in acquittals at trial, withdrawal and dismissal of charges, and even a conviction being overturned on appeal. Our attorneys traveled around the world representing service member facing court-martial charges.
In one memorable case, MJA represented an Army Staff Sergeant (E-6) at general court-martial charged with murder after a deadly shooting incident in Texas. MJA mounted a vigorous self-defense strategy, demonstrating that the Staff Sergeant acted lawfully to protect himself and others. At trial, MJA effectively cross-examined witnesses and highlighted forensic evidence supporting the self-defense claim. After deliberation, the panel found the Staff Sergeant NOT GUILTY, fully acquitting him of all charges and allowing him to continue his military career without conviction or punishment.
In another case, a Marine Staff Sergeant was tried at general court-martial for allegations of adultery, domestic violence, assault, child endangerment, false swearing, obstruction of justice, and more. MJA mounted a vigorous defense strategy at trial, demonstrating that the Staff Sergeant acted lawfully to protect himself during the alleged assault and that the other allegations against him were legally and factually insufficient. Multiple charges and specifications were dismissed or resulted in a directed finding of not guilty before jury even retired to deliberate. The jury found the Staff Sergeant NOT GUILTY on all remaining charges. The Marine received “no punishment” for the single adultery offense and walked out of the courtroom a free man.
In addition to acquittals at trial, MJA successfully appealed the court-martial conviction of a Soldier. After being convicted at trial of sexual assault and abusive sexual contact in violation of Article 120, UCMJ, the Soldier retained MJA to help fight the conviction on appeal. MJA reviewed the court-martial proceedings and appealed the Soldier’s conviction to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, raising five assignments of error. The Army Court of Criminal Appeals agreed that an error occurred at trial when the military judge denied a defense expert from testifying, and that the error resulted in prejudice to the Soldier. As a result, the Court set aside the findings of guilty and the sentence.
Court-martial defense remains at the heart of MJA’s military law practice. It means the world to us that we are able to know our clients personally, fight for them in their darkest hour, and share in their celebration when we succeed!
Administrative Separation Defense
MJA also saw incredible success representing dozens of service members facing administrative separation for allegations ranging from drug abuse to sexual assault.
In one case, a Machinist's Mate Second Class (E-5) in the United States Navy was investigated for allegations that he sexually assaulted three fellow Sailors. After prosecutors declined to prefer charges, the command forced the MM2 to non-judicial punishment, where despite his pleas of not guilty, the Commander found the Sailor guilty of sexual assault while on ship, punished him, and then notified him of involuntary separation. At the Sailor’s board MJA quickly dismantled the Government’s case by exposing the motive to fabricate shared by all three alleged victims, which created considerable doubt as to whether any or all of the allegations were even remotely true. By a unanimous vote of 3-0, the board members found that the evidence did not meet the preponderance standard and retained the Sailor on active duty.
In another case, a Captain (O-3) in the United States Army was required to show cause for retention before a Board of Inquiry after testing positive for Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-8). Facing the loss of their military career and medical retirement, the officer hired MJA to defend them at the board. MJA aggressively challenged the sufficiency of the government’s evidence and requested a directed verdict at the close of the government’s case, arguing legal and factual insufficiency. The Board agreed and found no basis for the alleged drug abuse, retaining the officer on active duty.
Throughout 2025, MJA represented numerous service members accused of drug abuse with speculator results for our clients:
- Quantico, Virginia. Marine Retained, Separation Board Finds "No Basis" After Positive Urinalysis for THC-8.
- San Diego, California. Sailor Retained, Adsep Board Finds "No Basis" After Sailor Tests Positive for “Delta-9” THC.
- Fort Benning, Georgia. Army Staff Sergeant Found Not Guilty of Drug Abuse at Article 15 Proceedings.
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Officer Retained, BOI Finds "No Basis" After Officer Tests Positive for “Delta-9” THC.
- Fort Gordon, Georgie. Officer Retained, Board Finds "No Basis" After Officer Tests Positive for “Delta-8” THC
- Norfolk, Virginia. AdSep Board Finds "No Basis" After Sailor Tests Positive for Methamphetamines.
- Suffolk, Virginia. Petty Officer's Positive Urinalysis for Delta-8 THC Determined to be Innocent Ingestion.
These are just a few of the many results MJA saw in its administrative separation defense. MJA is honored to fight for the careers of servicemembers.
Military Correction Board Appeals
At the military’s correction boards, MJA helped clients upgrade their characterization of service, expunge titling and indexing determinations, and remove unfavorable records from their official military personnel files.
In one memorable case, MJA represented a former Air Force Officer 20 years after his discharge. In 2007, the officer was involuntarily separated with a General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge under AFI 36-3207 (misconduct) following a general court-martial conviction that did not result in a punitive discharge. MJA petitioned the AFDRB requesting a discharge upgrade on behalf of the officer and provided evidence that the discharge and characterization of service were unjust. After an initial denial, MJA submitted for reconsideration pursuant to an Air Force-wide class action lawsuit. Upon review, the AFDRB reversed its original decision and upgraded the officer to a fully HONORABLE characterization of service. The AFDRB also changed the narrative reason to Secretarial Authority and reentry code to 3K.
In a case before the Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB), MJA successfully fought for a client’s upgrade from OTH to Honorable. In 2010, a Marine Corporal was administratively discharged with an Other than Honorable (OTH) characterization of service after receiving two NJPs and multiple counselings for violating Article 86 (AWOL) and 92 (Orders Violation), UCMJ. MJA appealed to the NDRB and provided substantial evidence that the Marine's substantive and procedural rights were violated during the separation process and that an OTH discharge was unjust under the circumstances. The NDRB agreed with MJA that the Marine's service met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance and that MJA submitted substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption of regularity in government affairs. Based on these findings, the Board unanimously determined that an OTH discharge was inequitable and upgraded the Marine to a FULLY HONORABLE characterization of service.
MJA also found success in the ever-difficult arena of titling appeals. In one case, MJA represented a Soldier who had been titled and indexed for suspected violations of Articles 128b, 128, and 92, UCMJ. After CID denied the initial expungement request, MJA appealed the decision to the ABCMR. The ABCMR found that while probable cause existed when the Soldier was initially titled, probable cause no longer exists because the allegations had been withdrawn and a Commander’s Report indicated there was no probable cause after interviewing the alleged victim. Accordingly, the ABCMR recommended that all Department of the Army records of the Soldier be corrected to show removal of the Soldier's name as the subject from the Defense Central Index of Investigations and any other record related to the report.
Military Mass Torts
In 2025, MJA recovered millions of dollars for Marines and their families who were harmed by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. As Marines ourselves, this litigation has been particularly personal to us.
As background, for over 30 years, Marines, their loved ones, and civilian contractors living and working aboard at Camp Lejeune were exposed to drinking water systems contaminated with industrial chemicals. Numerous types of cancers and other serious health conditions have been linked to these contaminants. After years of denying justice to those harmed by the contaminated water, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) became law in 2022, creating a federal cause of action to allow those who suffered from water contamination to file lawsuits for compensation.
While the government continues to fight against compensating Marines and their families for claims brought under the CLJA, 2025 showed a glimmer of hope as some Marines received financial awards for medical conditions they had sustained. MJA anticipates that 2026 will be a ground-breaking year for litigation as cases eventually go to trial.
MJA also spent 2025 pursuing claims for active-duty service members, veterans, civilians, and first responders who suffered injuries or illnesses caused by exposure to Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). Known commonly as firefighting or firefighter foam, AFFF has been linked to various types of cancers, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, and devastating consequences for victims and families.
Defense Base Act / SCRA
In 2025, under the Defense Base Act, MJA fought hard to obtain medical treatment and significant financial compensation for civilians, military veterans, and local nationals who were injured while working as overseas contractors. MJA also represented service members whose rights were violated under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA), resulting in financial compensation and other benefits.
Adopted in 1941, the Defense Base Act provides workers’ compensation protection to civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. military bases or under a contract with the U.S. government for public works or for national defense. Contractors who have been exposed to and incurred a physical or psychological injury due to their work overseas may be eligible for medical treatment or other benefits.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a consumer protection statute that provides certain legal protections for military service members facing potential mortgage foreclosure, vehicle repossession, and usury interest rates for certain installment contracts, among other rights. The SCRA is a powerful federal law that provides qualifying service members will additional legal rights and remedies.
At MJA, it is our honor to represent the military community and those who support it, and we are excited to continue to represent clients under the Defense Base Act and SCRA in 2026.
MJA Welcomed New Attorney and Staff
In 2025, MJA was pleased to welcome a number of new teammates to the firm including office manager Stacey Kahill, paralegal Lisa Young, and attorney Amy Thomas.
Thomas joined the firm’s military and administrative law practices. Before joining MJA, Thomas served 22 years in the Marine Corps, culminating her military career as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at Marine Forces Reserve where she provided comprehensive legal guidance to a three-star command across all aspects of military law. In this senior leadership role, she advised command leadership on complex legal matters affecting reserve operations and military personnel worldwide.
Throughout her military tenure, Thomas developed extensive trial experience serving as both government counsel and defense counsel in federal criminal proceedings. Thomas also boasts a comprehensive experience in military administrative law, having handled countless enlisted administrative separation boards and officer boards of inquiry.
Before joining MJA, Thomas served as a labor and employment attorney with the Defense Health Agency, where she led the DHA Office of General Counsel Investigation’s Cell. In this role, she was primarily responsible for investigating allegations of employee misconduct and recommending appropriate adjudicatory measures to DHA leadership.
With over two decades of distinguished military legal experience and federal employment law expertise, MJA was thrilled to have Amy join the firm and equally grateful for the outstanding professional support provided by our staff.
Thank you!
MJA is thankful for all the clients we were able to help in 2025 and looks forward to fighting for more service members in the new year. If you or a loved one need an experienced military attorney in your corner, contact us today for a free consultation.
