Are You Getting NJP
Are you in the military and getting NJP (nonjudicial punishment – article 15)? You need to know that there is a process and standards that must be followed before you can be found guilty.
Poppyseeds and Codeine
There’s long been held sort of a urban legend that there is some sort of opioid drug inside poppy seeds that show up on poppy seed bagels, and that will cause you to return a positive result on a urinalysis drug test.
PSA: Be Careful With Base Social Workers Copy
The base social workers that are there to assist military members and their families and various things. Understand that anything that you say to them can and will be used against you. They’re not required to advise you of your rights, and they feed their information to military law enforcement.
It’s a Business for Military Justices
Marketing for lawyers can be a touchy topic. When I began private practice 11 years ago, I had the mindset that if I was the best in my industry and worked the hardest, clients would find me. Referrals do come, but Google is king in helping me to connect with people who need my help. … Read more
You’re Going To Be Okay
I don’t care if they take your stripes away. Your loved ones are going to love you as an E-5 just as much as when you were an E-6. A client of mine committed suicide this week and his grieving mother called to inform me that her son, my client is now dead.
Hustling for Military Justice
I’ll give away my special sauce to military justice practitioners.All day. I wrote a book on my method for writing motions in military practice. I wrote a book showcasing best strategies for litigating motions for military practitioners. And soon, we will release my latest book on the specifics for Rule 412 drafting and litigation. I … Read more
Extramarital Sexual Conduct under Article 134 of the UCMJ
In the civilian world, adultery is generally not a crime; in the few states that have it on the books (only 16 states), it is rarely prosecuted. But in the military, it is punishable under the UCMJ and is often the subject of a command and criminal investigation, and be charged at courts-martial.
What is a Show Cause Board, what is a Board of Inquiry
A common question that we hear is… What is a show cause board, what is a board of inquiry? Those are the officer equivalence of an administrative separation board. It is an added layer of due process where that officer gets to appear in front of the board with an attorney who represents them before … Read more
Can A Soldier Be Denied Leave While Going Through UCMJ?
Can a soldier be denied leave while going through UCMJ? The short answer is yes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. So leave is one of those things that you’re not entitled to leave is something that you can receive. A lot of times you see that people will be denied leave when … Read more
Can I Get Chaptered For A GOMOR
One question that we often receive is…can I get chaptered for a GOMOR? As in many questions of the law, it really does depend in order to try to mitigate an issuance of a GOMOR to be a career killer. We have to look at all the various steps that a service member has in … Read more
I Don’t (Often) Negotiate for Military Justice
I hate negotiating with the government. I do. I really, really do. I don’t (often) negotiate with the government to reach a plea deal. When I try to, they don’t believe it is real. They seriously think it is some kind of trick. In fact, the last time I tried to negotiate a deal, the … Read more
Is GOMOR a Career Killer
Is a GOMOR a career killer? As in many questions of the law, it really does depend in order to try to mitigate an issuance of a GOMOR to be a career killer. We have to look at all the various steps that a service member has in addressing it. The first one is certainly … Read more
What Is Toxic Leadership
What is toxic leadership? Toxic leadership is a form of counterproductive leadership that has a recurring and deleterious effect on the people and the morale of an organization. It also can be said to threaten the ability of that person to accomplish the mission. Army regulation 600-100 lists, a number of different toxic behaviors that … Read more
PSA: Upgrade Discharge after COVID-19 Vaccination Refusal
Today’s public service announcement involves the legislation that was recently signed into law by President Biden on December 23rd, 2022, which repealed the Dodd’s mandate to receive Covid 19 vaccines.
Defending The Victims
How do you catch a child molester? Jocelyn Stewart, Esq. knows first hand what it’s like to defend the innocent and catch a pedophile. But how do you do so when there is very little published on the subject? “I wanted to do the work the right way…so I grew my own personal library…I also … Read more
How Does The Military Define Counterproductive Leadership
Often people confuse counterproductive leadership and call it toxic leadership. By military doctrine and specifically army regulation 600-100; toxic leadership is a type of counterproductive leadership. So if we think about it, counterproductive leadership is a broader category of what is said to violate principles of army leadership and toxic leadership has a very specific … Read more