UNLAWFUL COMMAND INFLUENCE MEANS A NEW TRIAL IN U.S. V. BOYCE

On Monday, May 22, 2017, a divided court finally came to the conclusion that the conduct of senior Air Force officials created an appearance of unlawful command influence (UCI) in the case of United States v. Boyd. The court also did not find prejudice to Boyce, concluding that any disinterested observer would doubt the fairness of … Read more

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Presidential pardons for 1st lt. Lorance & major golsteyn, rank restoration for chief gallagher

A recent press release issued by the White House has announced that President Trump has given clemency to two military service members and a rank restoration to another. Army First Lieutenant Clint Lorance and Army Major Mathew Golsteyn were each given an Executive Grant of Clemency (Full Pardon) for their unrelated military criminal cases. Special Warfare Operator First … Read more

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A COURT MARTIAL ATTORNEY

Any service member who has been accused of committing a crime has the right to retain a court martial attorney. Rather than facing your punishment hearing alone, face your reprimand hearing with a trusted attorney by your side. This can make a great deal of difference in your case. Not all court martial attorneys are … Read more

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CAAF DECIDES U.S. V. COLEMAN & REAFFIRMS DEFINITION OF MULTIPLICITY

The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) recently submitted a unanimous decision to conclude the case of U.S. v. Coleman. The decision itself weighs not just on that particular case, but also on many other military criminal justice cases since it directly addressed the question of multiplicity. The CAAF held that Coleman’s case had … Read more

RETIRED MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS & COURT-MARTIAL CASES

When a military service member decides to end their military career, they can either separate from the military altogether or, more commonly, retire. For as long as a retired service member is collecting retirement pay and benefits from the military, though, they can be held under court-martial jurisdiction. Furthermore, they can be recalled back to active … Read more

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Court-Martial Jurisdiction Does Apply to Retirees, Says Air Force CCA

The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals (AFCCA) has affirmed that it is sometimes possible and necessary to bring a retired service member before court-martial for judgement and penalties relating to pending criminal accusations. To some, the decision contradicts the purpose and intent of court-martial, which is meant to exclude civilians from its jurisdiction. However, with the … Read more

ARMY SEEKS WAYS TO ENCOURAGE MALE SERVICE MEMBERS TO FILE SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS

In a relatively short span of time, the United States Armed Forces has pushed a revitalized campaign to penalize alleged criminal offenders in the ranks. The Air Force Academy added protections for service members who report sexual assault, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) was updated to distinguish domestic violence from assault, and United States Secretary … Read more

UCMJ SHOULD BE USED MORE OFTEN FOR DISCIPLINE, SAYS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MATTIS

In a recent memo released to the public from the desk of United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) should be relied upon more often to discipline and penalize military service members who carry out misconduct, violations, and crimes. Within the few short lines of text in the memo, it is … Read more

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JOSEPH L. JORDAN, JD, RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN MILITARY LAW

LAWTON, OK, July 25, 2019, Joseph L. Jordan, JD, has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection … Read more