I believe that I should hire a civilian attorney to represent me in my court-martial, but I am concerned about the cost. Can’t I save money by just using my military attorney for the Article 32(b) hearing and then hire a civilian attorney for the trial?

Waiting to hire a civilian attorney until after the Article 32(b) hearing is potentially a dangerous way to cut costs. The Article 32(b) hearing is a crucial step in strategy for trial. The foundation of the cross-examinations to be made at trial comes from the questions asked during the Article 32(b) hearing. Ms. Stewart has agreed to be hired on cases after the Article 32(b) hearing, but inevitably she is disappointed in questions that were not asked, witnesses who were not called to testify, and by evidence not made available as part of the Article 32(b) hearing. The Article 32(b) sets the stage for the trial, and treating that hearing as unimportant has the potential to damage your case at trial. Additionally, although rare, there are instances when charges can be dismissed after the Article 32(b) hearing. Making poor tactical decisions can actually result in the addition of charges after the Article 32(b) hearing. Hiring an experienced civilian attorney who specializes in military court-martial defense earlier, rather than later, can make an enormous impact on the result of your case.