UNDERSTANDING YOUR ARTICLE 31 RIGHTS

Article 31 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice gives members of the military certain rights when they come under investigation or are placed under arrest. These rights are similar to the Miranda Rights that give civilians the right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning. Military members who want to take a proactive approach in their own defense need to make themselves aware of their Article 31 rights and hardily exercise those rights. You have the right to know why you have been placed under arrest and to understand the gravity of the charges filed against you. You also have the right to remain silent.

You need to realize that you are under no legal obligation to speak with investigators. It is the investigators' job to get you to slip up, to get some type of admission of guilt out of you and to ultimately get a confession so that you can be convicted. Do not give them any information that can be used against you in court. Every American, including members of the military, have the right to obtain legal counsel from an attorney and to have that attorney present during any and all questioning. Waiving your rights is not advised, regardless of your guilt or innocence.

If you are convicted, your enlistment status and your entire future will be at risk. Having an experienced court martial defense attorney on your side will give you the strong advocate you need when facing serious criminal charges. Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law is a highly-regarded court martial defense attorney, who himself is a former service member.

He understands the importance of providing members of the military with a solid defense strategy and he is unrelenting in his pursuit of justice on his clients' behalf. As a former military prosecutor, Mr. Jordan has a unique perspective on how these types of cases are handled and he knows what will be required for your defense. You have dedicated your life to fighting on behalf of your country and you deserve to have a skilled attorney fighting for you. Call his firm now!


A military attorney performs many of the same duties as his civilian counterpart. The difference is that the attorney works for and with military personnel. Military legal personnel participate in court proceedings in courtrooms on military bases all across the globe.


 

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