Have you or a loved one been accused of or charged with a crime while serving in the military? If so, you may now be facing a criminal hearing called a court martial. These proceedings are conducted under military law, also known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ. Because military law differs … Read more
Members of the armed forces are subject to the UCMJ, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as well as state courts. If a member of the military has violated any part of the code, a court martial can, and often times will, be convened. The type of court martial will be determined by the severity of the … Read more
Have you been accused of a crime while serving in the military? You may seek representation from a free UCMJ lawyer if your case is referred to a general court martial or special court martial. Knowing this, why would you seek other legal representation on your own? There are plenty of reasons to secure the … Read more
The Joint Service Committee on Military Justice (JSC) has released new supplementary material for the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM) that could have a significant effect on Article 134 trials. The new publication dictates how certain sexual offenses should be considered and recorded in court. For example, the new material clarifies how the Article 134 offense … Read more
The military has stood as a unique entity for centuries, with its own rules, regulations, and even a distinct court system. But why? While the idea of having a separate court for service members might appear unnecessary at first, understanding its historical underpinning, current relevance, and future importance paints a clear picture. Are you a … Read more
While Congress has recently overhauled parts of the military justice system, some members of Congress believe further changes need to be made. Democratic Representative Veronica Escobar is calling for pretrial confinement to be issued based on legal advice and not by the ranking Commander. Current Pretrial Confinement Protocol Pretrial confinement, as defined by the MCM, … Read more
Recent events surrounding Army Reserve Major Jamie Schwandt in North Carolina bring up the First Amendment issue regarding political and religious proselytizing within the military. Army Reserve Major Schwandt on YouTube In July of this year, Army Reserve Major Schwandt posted a video on YouTube discussing abortion and transgender issues. In his video, Schwandt identified … Read more
As a military service member, it’s important to understand how the military handles alcohol use. This way, you can make lawful, responsible choices regarding your alcohol consumption. Here’s what you need to know to remain in good standing as a service member and what to do if you face disciplinary action for excessive alcohol use. … Read more
Pentagon officials have recently reported that complaints filed against military brass – or commissioned officers – and senior civilian officials for sexual misconduct are on a noticeable rise. Between the years of 2015 and 2017, the reports spiked a total of 13%, or up to a total of 803. It has been noted that the increase in … Read more
When a person is charged with a crime, the judge may order pretrial confinement. The military version of pretrial confinement shares some similarities to civilian rules, but there are some notable differences. By understanding how pretrial confinement works for military members, you’ll know what to expect if this has been imposed on you. How Pretrial … Read more