There has been much commentary in the military court-martial world about the benefit of representing a client before a preliminary hearing under Article 32, UCMJ, especially in a military sexual assault case. Congress changed the Article 32 process from an investigative hearing to a preliminary hearing in 2014, which was aimed to limit the ability […]

If you are facing an administrative separation from the military, you should speak to a civilian military defense lawyer before electing any rights or responding to the separation notification. Responding to the notice of administrative separation is the first step in fighting an administrative separation, and the member should carefully consider how to execute the

Characterization of military service is extremely important! A less than fully Honorable Discharge imposes significant limitations on veterans’ VA benefits entitlement and employment opportunities. There is a lot of misinformation that goes around such as an other-than-honorable discharge will be upgraded in six months automatically. That is simply not true! This is such a widespread

THERE IS NO “GOOD” OUTCOME IF ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE NAVY.   After your reputation is destroyed by a sexual harassment charge, you can only hope to save your career.   Military members are not covered by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Rather, each service has issued regulations prohibitting sexual harassment and

Navy and Marine Corps officers are too frequently fired, or relieved of his or her duties, for alleged misconduct, incompetence, or poor leadership, or simply because something unfortunate happened under his or her watch. In 2015, there were 20 commanding officers fired, 4 executive officers fired, and 8 senior enlisted leaders fired. There were also

The Navy Appeals Court Makes an Interesting Observation of Sexual Contact Under Article 120, UCMJ   In United States v. Loeffler, NMCCA20150217 (May 31, 2016), a split Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) finds factual insufficiency in Sgt Loeffler’s conviction for aggravated sexual contact.  Like Most Military Sexual Assault Cases, This Case is Fact-Driven

Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorney for Active Duty Military   I spent 10 years on active duty in the Navy JAG Corps and now I am a civilian attorney located in Jacksonville, FL.  I routinely represent active duty Navy, Army, and Marine Corps members who are facing Florida state criminal charges in Duval, Nassau, and St.

When a military doctor receives a notice that his/her privileges at the military hospital have been placed in abeyance and approval for off-duty employment revoked, I generally see two reactions. The most common reaction by a military doctor who has had his/her privileges placed in abeyance is to think that he or she can resolve

Today, the Jacksonville Times Union had a story (originally from the St. Augustine Record)  on the effort to start a Veterans Court Program in St. Johns County.  It looks like the program is getting traction.  The link can be found here.

Florida Law Provides Veterans With Special Treatment Programs Successful Completion of a Court Ordered Veterans Treatment Program Will Avoid a Criminal Conviction. The provisions of the T. Patt Maney Veterans’ Treatment Intervention Act passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Florida’s Governor to take effect on July 1, 2012, as Section 394.47891