Michael Waddington | Criminal Lawyer Military | Court Martial Lawyer | Military Defense Lawyer | Military Lawyer | Court Marshal Lawyer | Military Criminal Attorney | Military Defense Counsel | UCMJ Lawyer | Criminal Attorney | Military Law Firm | Army Court Martial Lawyer military defense lawyer court martial lawyer military defense counsel military defense attorney criminal military lawyer court martial attorney court marshal attorney

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Court Martial Lawyer - Military Defense Lawyer - Criminal Lawyer Military - Military Defense Counsel - Military Defense Attorney - Court Martial Attorney - Military Defense Lawyers - Court Marshal Lawyer - Court Marshal Attorney - Criminal Military Lawyer - Criminal Attorney Military - UCMJ Lawyer

TIME/CNN - June 2008 - No court-martial for midshipman accused of rape ----- Atlanta Journal-Constitution - May 2008 - Winder GI exonerated of Iraqi murder ----- Washington Post - May 2008 - Article 32 Report Finds No Sexual Assault in Naval Academy Rape Allegation ----- CNN/AP - May 2008 - Charge, Sentence Reduced for Soldier Tried in Iraqi Death ----- USA Today - “Jury Acquits Soldier in Afghanistan Abuse” in 12 minutes ----- Army Times/AP - May 2008 - Soldier Charged with Murder Released after 60 days, pending clemency ----- Stars & Stripes - Apr 2008 - Soldier Not Guilty of Rape ----- CNN - Feb 2008 - Soldier Acquitted of Murdering Iraqi Detainee ----- MSNBC - Soldier dodges prison time for beating Iraqi with baseball bat ----- Soldier acquitted of assault, firearm charges ----- Drill Sergeant acquitted of trainee abuse, maltreatment, fraternization ----- Army Ranger acquitted of drug distribution charges

Michael Waddington is an expert court martial defense lawyer defending military personnel worldwide. He defends Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine court martial cases. He has defended court martial cases in the USA, Europe, the Middle East (Iraq, Kuwait), Central Asia (Afghanistan), and the Pacific (Korea, Japan).

Mr. Waddington is the founder of the National Association of Military Defense Lawyers and has successfully defended numerous high profile court martial cases arising from the War on Terror. He has been reported on and quoted by hundreds of major media sources worldwide. Mr. Waddington has provided consultation services to 60 Minutes, ABC Nightline, the BBC, German Public Television and other international news outlets. Click here to read about our high profile cases.

Click here to see our Recent Case Results

In a Court Martial, What Am I Up Against?
In most cases, the Prosecution has numerous attorneys and paralegals working hard to put you in prison for as long as possible. In the Military Justice system, the accused is often scared, overwhelmed, and feels helpless. Therefore, they feel they have no choice but to quickly plead guilty. When you plead guilty, you have a 96% chance of going to jail, getting a punitive discharge from the military, losing your rank, & you are GUARANTEED to be a Federal convict for the rest of your life.

Take a look at the facts:

  • Government prosecution team members usually outnumber your assigned military defense team 5 to 1.

  • The accused is often denied requested delays and continuances so that they can prepare for courts martial, Article 32's, and boards.

  • Military prosecutors often use the "shotgun approach" to charging. Their strategy is simple, charge a military service member with as many charges as possible, and they will have no choice but to plead guilty. It is not uncommon for a court martial charge sheet to be 3-4 pages long, usually with the same conduct charged over and over again, in a variety of ways.

  • The Government has virtually unlimited financial resources and some prosecutors will try to win at all costs.

  • The Government has its own staff of criminal investigators (CID, NCIS, OSI, MPI, etc.) trying to dig up dirt to use against you. They will almost always overlook, misplace, or hide evidence that helps your case. At trial, they will take innocent facts and twist them to make you look guilty.

  • Rank often plays a role in the outcome of your case. Almost always, the Judge, the Chief of Military Justice, the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), most of the jury, the Convening Authority (the person that picks the jury and decides whether or not you will be court martialed), the Article 32 officer, the chain of command, and virtually every person that makes a decision in your case will outrank you and your assigned Military Lawyer. An aggressive civilian defense lawyer is not subject to rank.

  • The Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) is the convening authority's (CA) legal advisor. The SJA has a duty to be fair, neutral, and impartial when giving advice. The SJA's role is "justice." The reality is, to many SJA's, "justice" means a conviction, hard jail time, and a discharge. The SJA is the boss, senior supervisor, and rater of the prosecutor. They are not looking out for your freedom and your family's welfare. They are not neutral. They want you in jail. Most SJA's actively strategize with their prosecutors on how to convict the defendant and maximize his jail time. Many SJAs admonish their prosecutors when they lose a case.
RECENT CASE RESULTS:
  • April 2008 - U.S. v. Army E-3 - Camp Casey, Korea
    Soldier charged with numerous specifications of aggravated sexual assault, rape, forcible sodomy, and others. Faced over 80 years in prison. Signed two detailed confessions. We conducted a thorough investigation up front and negotiated an alternate resolution with prosecution.

    Result: ALL COURT MARTIAL CHARGES DISMISSED 5 DAYS BEFORE ARTICLE 32 under Chapter 10.
  • Feb 2008 - U.S. v. Army E-4 - Schofield Barracks, Hawaii - FOB Warrior, Iraq
    Army Scout accused of murdering an Iraqi detainee/insurgent. Client allegedly shot a wounded detainee twice in the head at a distance of 4 feet. Charged with 1st degree premeditated murder (mandatory minimum - life in prison). Client admitted to shooting at detainee. Fought charge at Article 32 & had charge reduced to 3rd degree murder (up to life in prison). Client rejected all plea deals & requested trial by an enlisted jury.
    Result: ACQUITTED OF MURDER, convicted of aggravated assault by offer (discharging the weapon near the detainee but missing him)
    Sentence: RETAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY, 120 days in jail (will serve 100), reduced 2 grades, reprimand, NO FORFEITURES - Soldier will be paid while in jail. Will return to the unit and continue his career.
    4 May 2008 - Released early from jail pending clemency (see article)
    20 May 2008 - SENTENCE, CONVICTION REDUCED (Read article)
  • Feb 2008 - U.S. v. Army E-7 - Camp Red Cloud, Korea
    18 year vet accused of stealing over $150,000 in BAH, OHA, FHA, & FSA. Successfully contested charges at Article 32. Proved amount was greatly exaggerated.
    Result: COURT MARTIAL CHARGES WITHDRAWN and soldier remains on Active Duty. Allowed to pay back much lower amount in dispute.
  • Jan 2008 - U.S. Army O-3 - Yongsan, South Korea
    20 year vet court martialed for allegedly punching his 2 children with a closed fist, choking, and 3 charges of indecent acts on his minor daughter (8 charges total). Contested charges in front of an officer jury. Prosecution rejected a 3 year plea deal and forced case to a court martial.
    Result: ACQUITTED OF ALL SEX CHARGES & BEATING CHARGES. Convicted of 2 lesser assault & battery charges.
    Sentence: RETAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY, Reprimand, 100 days confinement, will retire in June 2008.

Military Defense Lawyer - Trial Lawyer

Michael Waddington is a criminal defense lawyer defending service members worldwide at court martial and administrative separation boards. In the past year alone, he has successfully defended military personnel in Europe, the Middle East (Iraq, Kuwait), Central Asia (Afghanistan), the Pacific (Yongsan Korea, Camp Casey Korea, Okinawa Japan, Yokota Japan), and throughout the United States. Mr. Waddington has a reputation for being a fearless and hard hitting trial lawyer. He has successfully fought cases with overwhelming odds and drives a hard bargain when negotiating. Prosecutors don't take a defense lawyer seriously unless they know that the lawyer has a history of taking cases to trial and winning.

Mr. Waddington has been involved in some of the most high profile cases arising from the War on Terror. He has extensive experience fighting against Military Prosecution "Teams" and winning. Mr. Waddington will personally handle your case from start to finish. He keeps his case load small and generally only takes cases were the client wants to fight the allegations.

Know Your Rights as a Suspect

Choosing a military defense attorney may be the most important decision that you will ever have to make. Do not go into a court martial or administrative separation board without carefully selecting your lawyer.

Court Martial Lawyer

Our defense lawyers provide professional representation at General Court Martial (GCM), Special Court Martial (BCD Special), or Summary Court Martial (SCM). Working with your assigned counsel, we take the lead and develop the best strategy to protect your life, liberty and property.

Administrative Separation& Show Cause Boards

Our attorneys can help defend your rights at separation boards & show cause boards. Mr. Waddington has successfully represented hundreds of service members facing administrative separation.

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Military defense lawyer areas of expertise:
Court Martials - Military Court Martial Appeals
Administrative Separation Boards - Show Cause Boards - Article 32 Investigations


Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law
706-821-2222 (phone) - 706-447-6995 (fax)
E-mail: msw@wgmlawfirm.com

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Note: The act of contacting our firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. The firm will only accept representation upon the signing of an appropriately drafted Contractual Agreement signed by an attorney from Gonzalez & Waddington and the Client.