Fort Lauderdale Military Defense Lawyers – Court-Martial & Administrative Separation Attorneys

Elite Military Criminal Defense for Service Members in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale and the greater Broward County region are home to thousands of active-duty service members, Reservists, Guardsmen, retirees, and Coast Guard personnel. With major installations and units operating throughout South Florida—including USCG Sector Miami, Homestead ARB, and Joint Interagency Task Force operations—service members living in Fort Lauderdale operate under intense scrutiny. When allegations arise, the command response is swift, aggressive, and often unforgiving.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is the premier civilian military defense firm serving Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Hollywood, and all of South Florida. Led by former JAG attorney Michael Waddington and courtroom strategist Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, our team defends service members facing UCMJ charges, administrative separations, Article 15/NJP, BOIs, and military investigations with overwhelming firepower and elite legal strategy.

Why Fort Lauderdale Is a High-Risk Zone for Military Legal Problems

Fort Lauderdale’s combination of tourism, nightlife, international visitors, beach culture, and a large military community leads to more legal incidents than most cities. Military personnel face heightened risk—both on and off duty—due to the region’s unique challenges:

Alcohol-related incidents involving downtown nightlife and Las Olas
Domestic disturbances with Broward Sheriff’s Office involvement
False or exaggerated allegations arising from nightlife interactions
Command pressure to “set an example” due to high visibility of local units
CGIS and NCIS investigations beginning without notice
Military members mistakenly believing local civilian cases “won’t affect the military”

Military Presence in the Fort Lauderdale Region

Although Fort Lauderdale does not host a major base, thousands of military personnel live, work, or train throughout Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Units in the region include:

USCG Sector Miami
USCG Stations Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Islamorada, and Key Biscayne
Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB)
SOUTHCOM & JIATF-S support elements
Navy, Marine, Air Force, & Army Reserve/National Guard units

Commands tied to operational missions in the Caribbean, Atlantic, and South Florida place service members under closer scrutiny than most CONUS locations.

For official Coast Guard information, visit:
United States Coast Guard (.mil)

UCMJ Allegations We Defend in Fort Lauderdale

We defend all service members in Broward County facing military criminal charges, including cases connected to civilian arrests:

Article 120 – Sexual assault & abusive sexual contact
Article 128b – Domestic violence
Article 112a – Drug use, possession, distribution
Article 92 – Disobeying orders, liberty incidents, improper conduct
Article 107 – False official statements to investigators
Article 86 – AWOL or failure to report
Article 134 – Fraternization, adultery, disorderly behavior
Civilian arrests that convert into parallel military discipline

Administrative Separations & BOIs in Fort Lauderdale

Administrative separation boards are extremely common in South Florida and are used aggressively to discharge service members quickly—especially those tied to local incidents.

Admin Separation Boards (for enlisted members)
Boards of Inquiry (BOI) (for officers)
Show Cause Boards
NJP/Captain’s Mast representation
Security clearance defense
Misconduct & performance-based eval rebuttals

Commands often rely on fast-track separations rather than full investigations—especially when incidents involve alcohol, nightlife, or alleged misconduct in the Fort Lauderdale area.

How Gonzalez & Waddington Builds Your Defense

Our aggressive, evidence-driven defense strategy is tailored to the realities facing service members living in South Florida:

Thorough review of NCIS/CGIS/OSI/CID investigative files
Expose inconsistencies, lies, and coaching in witness statements
Analyze digital evidence: texts, location data, call logs, social media
Identify surveillance or bodycam footage from local law enforcement
Retain expert witnesses in forensics, psychology, and intoxication science
Create robust retention and mitigation packages
Prepare for cross-examination and testimony under pressure

Why South Florida Service Members Choose Gonzalez & Waddington

Michael Waddington – former JAG & globally recognized court-martial attorney
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington – elite trial strategist known for dismantling government witnesses
Decades of winning results in high-risk Florida cases
National reputation for exposing flawed military investigations
Authors of bestselling books on military trial warfare
We take fewer cases to deliver maximum courtroom firepower

Living in Fort Lauderdale Increases Military Legal Risk

Fort Lauderdale combines beachfront living, nightlife, and large transient populations, all of which increase legal exposure for service members living in the region.

Broward nightlife leads to confrontations and false allegations
Tourist interactions create unpredictable legal situations
Civilian arrests often trigger immediate military repercussions
Domestic incidents result in simultaneous county + military investigations

For local government resources, visit the City of Fort Lauderdale official website:
https://www.fortlauderdale.gov

Pro Tips for Service Members in Fort Lauderdale Under Investigation

Never speak to any military investigator without a lawyer.
Save all evidence—screenshots, messages, photos, videos.
Avoid discussing your case with anyone besides your attorney.
Do NOT confront accusers—it always backfires.
Document everything while details are fresh.
Hire a civilian military defense lawyer early—timing determines outcomes.

Cities in Florida Our Military Defense Lawyers Serve

Your Military Career in Fort Lauderdale Is at Risk — Act Now

If you are stationed, training, or living in Fort Lauderdale and facing a military investigation, NJP, separation board, BOI, or court-martial, you cannot wait. Florida commands move quickly—and so must your defense. You need a proven, aggressive military defense team immediately.

Florida Military Bases We Serve

How We Defend Florida Service Members