Court-Martial Attorney
A court-martial charge means a federal criminal prosecution. A conviction can result in confinement, dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and benefits, and a permanent criminal record that follows you into civilian life. The military justice system does not wait for you to find your footing. Once charges are preferred, the process moves on the government's timeline.
Joseph L. Jordan has represented more than 1,000 service members and taken 245+ cases to verdict across 19 years of exclusive military defense practice. He is a former Army JAG prosecutor who tried cases at Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos), Texas, and with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. He has defended Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians facing general and special courts-martial, administrative separation boards, boards of inquiry, and nonjudicial punishment at installations worldwide. He knows how the government builds its case because he used to build them.
Under investigation or facing charges? Article 15 or separation action? Call (888) 367-9489 now for a free, confidential consultation. Available 24/7. Financing available.
Why Retain a Civilian Court-Martial Attorney
The Trial Defense Service assigns military counsel at no cost. TDS attorneys are dedicated professionals, but they rotate on the military's schedule, carry heavy caseloads, and operate inside the same system prosecuting your case. If your assigned counsel PCSs mid-case, the next attorney inherits your file and starts over. In a serious case, you need a military lawyer whose only job is defending you.
A civilian court-martial attorney provides independence from the chain of command, continuity from investigation through resolution, and focused attention that the military's structure cannot guarantee. You have the right to retain civilian counsel alongside your military defense attorney. You can have both.
Jordan's practice is exclusively military defense. He does not divide his time between civilian cases and military cases. Every case, every client, every courtroom has been military for 19 years. That singular focus, combined with 245+ trials to verdict, is why service members retain him.
Court-Martial Defense Results
Results depend on specific facts. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. View all case results.
Sexual assault, nine alleged victims. Air Force O-4, Keesler AFB. Full acquittal on all charges.
Rape. Army E-2, Fort Sill. Full acquittal. The accused faced life imprisonment.
Child sexual assault. Army E-5, Fort Wainwright. Full acquittal.
Drug distribution. Army E-1, Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos). Full acquittal.
Manslaughter. Army E-4, Fort Drum. Charges dropped.
Domestic violence, Article 128. Army E-6, Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos). Case dismissed.
Larceny and BAH fraud. Army E-8, Fort Drum. Charges dropped.
Sexual assault. Marine Corps E-3, Okinawa. Not guilty.
Sexual assault. Coast Guard O-1, Martinsville, West Virginia. Not guilty.
Board of Inquiry, sexual assault allegation. Air Force LTC, Wright-Patterson AFB. Retained, no basis to separate.
These results span sexual assault, violent crimes, drug offenses, financial crimes, and administrative actions. They include enlisted service members from E-1 to E-8 and officers through Lieutenant Colonel, across Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.
Types of Court-Martial
The military justice system recognizes three levels of court-martial. Each carries different procedures, maximum punishments, and strategic considerations for the defense.
Summary Court-Martial. Minor offenses. Enlisted personnel only. A single officer presides. Maximum punishment includes 30 days confinement for E-4 and below. You can refuse a summary court-martial, but command may then pursue a special or general court-martial instead. An experienced court-martial attorney evaluates whether refusal creates more risk or less.
Special Court-Martial. Intermediate offenses. Tried before a military judge or a panel of at least four members. Maximum punishment includes 12 months confinement, forfeiture of two-thirds pay, reduction to E-1, and a bad conduct discharge. Jordan has defended service members at special courts-martial across every branch.
General Court-Martial. The most serious offenses. Tried before a military judge or a panel of at least eight members. Maximum punishment depends on the charged offenses but can include dishonorable discharge, life imprisonment, and in rare capital cases, death. A general court-martial requires an Article 32 preliminary hearing before charges can be referred to trial. Jordan has taken 245+ cases to verdict, including general courts-martial carrying life sentences.
How a Court-Martial Case Proceeds
Most cases begin after a CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS investigation. The investigative report goes to your chain of command. The commander, with advice from the local JAG office, decides how to proceed: nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, administrative separation, letter of reprimand, or court-martial.
If the commander chooses court-martial, charges are preferred and you become the accused. For a general court-martial, the case goes through an Article 32 preliminary hearing where the defense can cross-examine witnesses and challenge evidence. The convening authority then decides whether to refer charges to trial.
At trial, you have the right to military counsel, civilian counsel, or both. You choose judge alone or panel. You can confront witnesses, present evidence, and testify or remain silent. A military panel does not require a unanimous verdict. Conviction requires three-fourths of the members to vote guilty.
A court-martial attorney who intervenes early can shape the outcome before trial. Statements made to investigators before consulting counsel cannot be withdrawn. Evidence that could have been challenged at Article 32 but was not is lost. Waivers signed without understanding the consequences are permanent. If investigators contact you, invoke your Article 31(b) rights immediately and do not answer questions without defense counsel present. Early contact makes a material difference in whether charges are filed and what options remain available.
Do not speak to investigators without counsel. Call (888) 367-9489.
Cases We Defend
Jordan defends service members facing the full range of UCMJ charges and adverse actions:
Article 120 sexual assault and rape. Jordan has tried 176 sexual assault courts-martial, more than most military defense attorneys will see in a career.
Article 112a drug offenses. Wrongful use, possession, and distribution.
Article 128 assault and domestic violence. Including Article 128b domestic violence charges.
Drug crimes. Urinalysis failures, positive drug tests, and controlled substance charges.
Larceny and financial fraud. BAH fraud, government credit card misuse, and theft.
Article 134 general offenses. Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
NJP and Article 15 defense. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard.
Administrative separation boards. Retention advocacy at all levels.
Board of Inquiry representation. Officer separation defense.
GOMOR rebuttals. Filing strategy and rebuttal preparation.
Discharge upgrades. Board for Correction of Military Records and Discharge Review Board representation.
All branches. All ranks. Worldwide representation including Germany, Korea, Japan, Italy, Okinawa, and the Middle East.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a court-martial attorney cost? Fees depend on case complexity, the type of court-martial, and how far the case proceeds. Jordan provides fee information during consultation. Financing may be available.
When should I contact a court-martial lawyer? Before speaking to investigators or responding to command. Decisions made before charges are preferred can affect whether charges are filed at all. Early intervention protects rights and preserves options.
Can a court-martial attorney represent service members overseas? Yes. Jordan represents service members at installations worldwide, including Germany, Korea, Japan, Italy, Okinawa, and the Middle East. He has tried cases across the continental United States, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.
Should I hire a civilian court-martial attorney if I already have military counsel? You have the right to both. Civilian counsel adds independence, continuity, and focused attention. Military defense counsel rotate assignments and carry multiple cases. In a serious case, civilian counsel provides an advocate whose only obligation is to you.
What is the difference between an Article 15 and a court-martial? An Article 15 is nonjudicial punishment, handled by your commander without a trial. It does not create a federal criminal conviction. A court-martial is a federal criminal trial that can result in confinement, punitive discharge, and a permanent criminal record. In many cases, you have the right to refuse Article 15 and demand a court-martial, but this decision requires careful legal analysis.
What should I do if investigators contact me? Invoke your Article 31(b) right to remain silent. Do not consent to searches. Do not make statements to investigators, your chain of command, or anyone else without defense counsel present. Contact a court-martial attorney immediately.
About Joseph L. Jordan
Joseph L. Jordan is a former Army JAG prosecutor who tried cases at Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos), Texas, and with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. His military legal experience includes service as a legal assistance attorney, chief of claims, operational law attorney, and administrative law attorney. He has represented more than 1,000 service members and taken 245+ cases to verdict across all six branches of the Armed Forces.
Licensed in Arkansas. Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Call or text 24/7: (888) 367-9489. Free consultation. Confidential. No obligation. Financing available.
Based in San Antonio, Texas. Representing service members worldwide.
General information only, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship exists until a written agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Attorney advertising.