If you have been charged or are suspected with violating the UCMJ, your good military character may be a defense. If used properly, the “Good Soldier Defense” can be effective tool for an experienced attorney to create reasonable doubt in the minds of the judge or jury about whether you committed the alleged crime., Read More

Just like the civilian court system, the military also has an appeals system set up for post-conviction relief. If you’ve been convicted under a general or special court martial, your case will automatically be reviewed by a judge advocate and by the convening authority. Upon review, the convening authority can, or may, grant some, Read More

The military is unique. It provides members and their families with housing, jobs, grocery stores, and gas stations. It only makes sense that the military would keep within its community its own judicial system. While there are several similarities to the civilian court system, military courts have unique procedures with consequences specifically geared towards, Read More

The concept of a court martial may seem mystifying to some, but it doesn’t have to be. Every military service member should understand the core components of the court martial process. In that spirit, let’s take a look at two essential elements of military court: preferral and referral of charges. Forming the Military Court, Read More

Article 32, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), requires that a preliminary hearing be conducted before criminal charges may be referred to general court-martial for trial. A “preliminary hearing” or “Article 32 hearing”, as it is colloquially referred to, is an important pretrial milestone which offers an accused with his or her first real, Read More

A court-martial is a military version of a civilian criminal proceeding. Like its civilian counterpart, it requires an accused to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but any real similarity ends there. Differences include: Courts-martial are specifically intended to try military offenses. All jurors are service members specifically selected by the base commander, Read More