Messy Military Lawyer – today’s service announcement: Is if you for any reason need to go down to a military law enforcement location like OSI, CID, NCIS, CGIS any of them, don’t bring your phone with you. Don’t bring your wallet with you. Have a buddy drive you. Chances are if you’re a suspect you’re … Read more
What happens after a CID investigation? Once CID determines that the investigation has no more additional leads that they are going to pursue. They forward it to their own internal chain to get approval, to close it out. Once that happens, it gets turned over to your base legal office where the JAG officers there … Read more
What sort of crimes does Army CID investigate? CID often is heard to say that they investigate felony level crimes, but that doesn’t necessarily answer the mail when it comes to the UCMJ. Often we have a harder time delineating between what constitutes a felony and what constitutes misdemeanor. In large part that’s because it’s … Read more
What does Army CID investigate? The general rule of thumb is that if it is considered to be a felony level offense under the UCMJ, CID is going to investigate. They also investigate all death investigations, where sometimes there’s not even a hint of a homicide or a wrongful death. In other words, when somebody … Read more
This idea of lawyers being used as shields is not a new one. Plenty of movies and TV shows have moments where someone says the phrase “talk to my lawyer!” Often this phrase is touted against an adversary, enemy, or just someone who is in a position of authority or power. It’s also used in … Read more
Unfortunately, one of the more common questions that we receive in our consults with potential clients and even answering questions for people who become our clients is how long can CID keep a case open. The unfortunate answer to that is as long as it takes. In some extreme examples, we’ve seen investigations last several … Read more
One of the significant differences between representing military clients as a civilian UCMJ defense attorney and doing so as a uniformed counsel is that I get to choose my clients. When you wear the uniform, you take the assignments you are given with zero say on who your clients will be. One of the luxuries … Read more
Has DFAS Ever Paid Anyone Properly? Anyone who has ever received pay and allowances from the government either has personally known an error or has known a buddy who struggled with pay issues; sometimes overpayment and sometimes absence. Pay Issues and Legal Issues In 2016, the firm represented a client who had experienced issues in … Read more
Several times per week we get calls from people who want to correct a record that came up as part of a background check. Typically these people have left the military and are applying for jobs that require examination of their criminal history. With an honest belief they have none, they are astonished when their … Read more
The culture alive and well among military law enforcement agents that use trickery, deceit, psychologically coercive techniques to achieve a “confession” or at least “admissions” cares little for the human sitting in the chair. It is a game, where the agents known for breaking the most suspects receive praise and acclaim. I find it repugnant. … Read more