UCMJ Defense Practice Areas

Comprehensive Military Defense for Service Members Worldwide

If you are facing potential disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, or administrative removal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), your future and freedom are on the line. Whether you are enlisted, an officer, on active duty, reserve, or National Guard, you deserve a legal team that understands every facet of military justice and can navigate the complexities with precision and depth.

At Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law, we specialize exclusively in military justice. Our attorneys include a former JAG officer (Michael Waddington) and a seasoned civilian trial lawyer (Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington), who have defended hundreds of service members in the most serious UCMJ charges, administrative removal proceedings, and international courts‑martial. We bring global reach, advanced trial strategy, and a relentless commitment to protect your rights, your career, and your future.

Why Choose Legal Counsel Focused on UCMJ Defense?

The military justice system is fundamentally different from civilian courts. Investigations are initiated by command, prosecution is controlled by the government, and the culture emphasizes discipline over presumption of innocence. Without specialized UCMJ defense, you face risks including:

• Unlawful command influence compromising the fairness of the process
• Rapid investigative and prosecutorial action leaving little time to respond
• Non‑judicial punishments (NJP/Article 15) or administrative boards that proceed with lower standards of proof
• Collateral consequences civilian attorneys may not anticipate—such as discharge status, security clearances, veteran benefits, and international implications

That is why you need attorneys who focus solely on military justice and understand how to build strategic defenses from day one.

Our Core Practice Areas under the UCMJ

We handle a full spectrum of UCMJ defense practice areas. Below is a detailed breakdown of key forums, offenses, and administrative actions we defend service members against.

Court‑Martial Defense

When you face charges punishable by confinement, bad‑conduct discharge, dishonorable discharge, or loss of benefits, you need a court‑martial defense team that has been there before. Our services include:

• Summary court‑martial representation
• Special court‑martial representation
• General court‑martial representation
• Article 32 hearings and pre‑trial motions
• Post‑trial motions, appeals and clemency advocacy

High‑Risk Offenses We Defend

These include the most serious UCMJ charges that can end careers and destroy civilian lives:

• Article 120 – sexual assault, rape, abusive sexual contact
• Article 118 – murder and manslaughter
• Article 128b – domestic violence and assault in a military context
• Article 112a – wrongful use, possession or distribution of controlled substances
• Article 85/86 – absence without leave (AWOL) and desertion
• Article 134 – general misconduct, fraternization, obstruction of justice, false official statements
• War‑crimes, atrocities, detainee abuse, and international criminal exposures in overseas deployments

Non‑Judicial Punishment & Administrative Action

Not all disciplinary action leads to a court‑martial—but the consequences may be just as detrimental. We defend against:

• Non‑judicial punishment (NJP / Article 15) proceedings
• Administrative separation boards / “chaptering out” — for misconduct, substandard performance, pattern behavior
• Officer Boards of Inquiry (BOI) for loss of confidence, misconduct or moral dereliction
• Security clearance revocations, civil‑military overlap issues, and separation characterizations

Forced Discharge, Retirement Matters & Veterans’ Benefits

Even if you avoid prosecution, an unfavorable discharge can ruin your post‑military life. We guide you through:

• Discharge characterization hearings and appeals
• Retirement revocation or reduction actions
• Guard/reserve refilling issues and recoupment of retirement pay
• Impact on GI Bill eligibility, VA benefits, Department of Labor civilian security clearance issues

International & Deployment‑Related Investigations

When you’re overseas, you face additional layers of legal exposure—host nation law, Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs), war‑time evidentiary challenges, and uniformed prosecutorial reach. We handle:

• Deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, Africa and Asia where UCMJ violations are investigated by theater, service‑specific or multinational forces
• Detention/detainee operations, rules of engagement (ROE) violations, cyber/ISR evidence, war‑crime exposures
• Coordination of civilian‑federal and host‑nation jurisdictions
• Evacuation, transfer, disciplinary action while in theater, and immediate defense engagement

How We Build Your Strategic Defense

Effective UCMJ defense means more than pleading— it means strategy. At Gonzalez & Waddington we deploy a comprehensive approach:

• Immediate case evaluation and retention to stop irreversible damage
• Evidence preservation, digital forensic work, witness location, chain‑of‑custody review
• Identification of improper investigative tactics, unlawful command influence (UCI), violations of Article 31(b) and AR 27‑10 rights
• Expert consultation in DNA, toxicology, digital forensics, interrogation tactics, psychology of false allegations
• Motion practice including suppression, discovery, voir dire, and panel challenge
• Negotiation for mitigation, plea alternatives when appropriate, or full trial readiness and appeal strategy
• Administrative defense to protect discharge status, benefits, retirement and civilian future, even outside criminal forums

We treat every case with the seriousness it deserves. Your military career, your freedom, and your future are at stake. You deserve a legal team that has earned its reputation in defending the hardest cases—and will fight for every available defense.

Why Choose Gonzalez & Waddington

• Hundreds of UCMJ cases tried across continents and bases
• Led by former JAG officers and civilian trial lawyers who speak military law fluently
• Specialized focus on military defense—no general practice dilution
• We limit our caseload so senior attorneys handle every aspect of your case
• Global representation—domestic bases, overseas deployments, war zone jurisdiction
• Proven record of acquittals, favorable dispositions, discharge upgrades and appeals victories

Next Step: Take Action

If you’re under investigation, facing non‑judicial punishment, a separation board, or court‑martial charges under the UCMJ—it is time to act. The government is already building its case. Let us build your defense.

➤ Schedule Your Confidential Case Evaluation

UCMJ Defense Practice Areas – Frequently Asked Questions