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Court-Martial Defense

If you are under investigation or have recently been served a preferred charge sheet for a court-martial or Article 32 preliminary hearing, you need an experienced court-martial military lawyer by your side to protect your rights and defend your integrity. Learn more about the different types of courts-martial below.

What is a Court-Martial?

A court-martial is a federal court convened by a Commanding Officer/General to adjudicate the alleged criminal misconduct of a military service member. A court-martial is the military’s version of a criminal trial, in which other members of the military render a finding on a service member’s guilt or innocence, and any ensuing punishment. Depending on the severity of the charges, a court-martial will take one of the following three forms:

General Court-Martial

General courts-martial are reserved for the most serious crimes including murder, sexual assault, and high-dollar larceny and/or fraud. Officer misconduct is also often adjudicated at a general court-martial to ensure dismissal is a potential punishment. A Commanding Officer/General may refer such charges to a general court-martial because this type of proceeding has no maximum jurisdictional limitations on punishment. The jury at a general court-martial can punish as much as the criminal statute allows—and many criminal statutes calculate duration of confinement in decades rather than in years. A pretrial Article 32 hearing is required before charges can be referred to a general court-martial.

Special Court-Martial

Special courts-martial usually handle criminal matters of a misdemeanor-type nature such as a drug offense, simple assault, orders violations, or unlawful absence. Punishment may not include confinement longer than one year. Though less grave than general courts-martial convictions, a special court-martial conviction will result in a criminal record for the military member and could have serious adverse effects on service member’s career, benefits, and future.

Summary Court-Martial

Summary courts-martial are generally uncontested administrative hearings, rarely offered unless the service member acknowledges misconduct. There is no judge or jury present at a summary court-martial; instead, a sole officer chosen by the Commanding Officer/General hears the matter and renders a decision on punishment. Outcomes can include confinement up to 30 days, but neither criminal conviction nor punitive discharge is permissible. Nonetheless, consequences of a summary court-martial decision can be serious, and a service member considering pleading guilty to one should seek a court-martial attorney.

Contact MJA

If you are involved in military court-martial proceedings, it is critical that you speak with an experienced court-martial attorney right away. Contact our court-martial lawyers now to learn more.

What Our Clients Say

  • "Best Experience-Best Outcome-Best Service."

    The relief we felt when we received that phone call from Joshua Hill was something I cannot even describe. If you want someone who will communicate with you and for you, fight for you, and extremely professional, hire Joshua Hill.

    - Lori
  • "Recommending, advising and informing!"

    If you are looking for an attorney who will listen to your concerns and feel that he is personally and professionally invested in results, Joshua Hill is your attorney. I was astonished by the level of knowledge Mr. Hill possesses while proving he is strat

    - Kerri
  • "Experienced, responsive, and knowledgeable."

    mmediately upon my retaining Mr. Healy he was there, accessible, through phone and text, explaining to me all the answers of the questions I had about the intimidating arena I had just been forced into. He replied to all of my concerns thoroughly and speci

    - Tyler
  • "Honest and Amazing Attorney."

    I called Mr.Hill and talking with him, he was very respectful, professional and most of all honest. Whenever I had a question, Mr. Hill was very accurate and informative during the whole process.

    - Rodney
  • "An Excellent Lawyer!"

    Gerald Healy represented my son in a very serious court martial case. He walked with us each step of the way from the beginning to the end. He put in numerous hours and left no stone overturned when working on my son’s case.

    - Anonymous

Our Battles Won

Results Matter. When your career, reputation, and freedom are on the line, you need an experienced law firm in your corner. With more than 75 years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at MJA know how to fight and win. Our results speak for themselves.

  • "NOT GUILTY" Fort Cavazos, Texas

    Fort Hood, Texas. Army Private Second Class (E-2) Acquitted of Rape and Sexual Assault Charges After Week-Long Trial.

    Sexual Assault

  • "NOT GUILTY" Parris Island, South Carolina

    Parris Island, South Carolina. Marine Staff Sergeant (E-6) Acquitted at Court-Martial of Hazing, Blood Striping, and Pinning.

    Court-Martial

  • "NOT GUILTY" Kings Bay, Georgia

    Kings Bay, Georgia. Master-at-Arms Third Class (E-4) Acquitted by Jury of Dereliction of Duty Involving Firearm.

    Court-Martial

  • "NOT GUILTY" Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany

    Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Senior Airman (E-4) Accused of Rape and Abusive Sexual Contact Acquitted by Military Judge.

    Sexual Assault

  • "NOT GUILTY" Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

    Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Army Staff Sergeant (E-6) Acquitted of Sexual Assault, Harassment, Maltreatment, and Larceny.

    Sexual Assault

  • "NOT GUILTY" Quantico, Virginia

    Quantico, Virginia. Marine Corporal (E-4) Acquitted at Court-Martial of Wrongful Drug Use After Positive Urinalysis.

    Drug Use

When Your Career Is On The Line

Our decentralized approach to military defense ensures that we can represent service members from any branch of the military, of any rank, at any military base or installation stateside or abroad.

For A Free Consultation Contact Us Today

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