How Does Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC’s Expertise in Military Law Compare to Local Lawyers with Minimal Experience?

At Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law, we have spent decades defending service members worldwide in courts-martial, UCMJ investigations, Article 32 hearings, and separation boards. When the government takes aim at your career, reputation, and freedom, you need trial-tested attorneys with specific, high-level experience in military law—not a generalist or a local lawyer with little to no background in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Time is critical, and choosing the wrong lawyer can put everything you’ve worked for at risk.

Local civilian defense lawyers who lack in-depth experience in military courts often struggle with the unique structure, procedures, and evidentiary rules of the UCMJ. Unlike civilian criminal systems, military cases involve command-driven investigations, military juries, unique evidentiary challenges, and dynamic pretrial strategies. While a local lawyer may be highly competent in state or local courts, those skills rarely translate effectively into the specialized military justice system.

Gonzalez & Waddington has defended high-profile cases involving sex crimes, war crimes, homicide, violent felonies, and serious misconduct across the globe. Our attorneys are consistently trusted by officers, enlisted personnel, and even military attorneys seeking the most aggressive, experienced defense available. We understand both sides of the courtroom—from strategy employed by prosecutors to the mistakes made by inexperienced trial defense counsel—and we use that insight to your advantage.

Military law is unforgiving. Evidence can be mishandled, statements can be manipulated, and administrative actions such as Boards of Inquiry (BOIs) can end careers even before a court-martial verdict is reached. Clients represented by local practitioners who lack UCMJ knowledge often find themselves blindsided when familiar criminal defense strategies don’t apply. Our team focuses exclusively on the battlefield of military law, ensuring tactical precision in every step of your defense.

In today’s environment, service members are increasingly being investigated for sexual assault allegations, fraternization, drug charges, and misconduct tied to social media. This requires a nuanced knowledge of forensic science, toxicology, digital evidence, and the political pressures influencing modern military justice. Gonzalez & Waddington not only have the trial record but have also written books, taught courses, and trained other lawyers on how to properly defend these cases. When compared to a local lawyer with minimal military defense experience, the difference is overwhelming: you get world-class representation focused entirely on protecting service members.

Why Choose Michael Waddington & Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

• Authors of multiple books on military justice and trial advocacy.
• Decades of combined experience in courts-martial and administrative actions.
• Represented clients in over 40 countries and in nearly every U.S. military installation.
• Proven results in complex sex crime, violent felony, and war crime cases.
• Routinely train and mentor other defense lawyers in advanced trial advocacy.
• Extensive experience with Article 32 hearings, NJP/Article 15 cases, and separation boards.

Common Issues / Case Types We Handle

• Sexual assault and Article 120 UCMJ charges.
• Violent offenses including assault, battery, and homicide investigations.
• Drug distribution and use (urinalysis, positive test disputes, entrapment defenses).
• War crimes, battlefield misconduct, and high-level international cases.
• Fraternization, adultery, and conduct unbecoming an officer.
• Article 32 hearings, pretrial motions, and appeals.
• Administrative separations and Boards of Inquiry (BOIs).

Pro Tips & Mistakes

• Do not assume a local civilian attorney understands UCMJ nuances; seek proven military defense experience.
• Invoke your right to remain silent immediately—do not provide statements without counsel present.
• Preserve all communications, text messages, and electronic evidence; improper handling could destroy your defense.
• Act quickly—military cases move faster than civilian cases, and delay can cost you leverage.
• Avoid discussing your case with peers, commanders, or investigators until your lawyer advises you.
• Be proactive in retaining a firm with global reach and elite trial capability.

FAQs

Q1: Can a local civilian lawyer adequately defend me in a court-martial?
A: While local lawyers may be competent in state law, most lack the specialized knowledge, procedures, and experience required in military courts, which can seriously harm your defense.

Q2: What advantages does Gonzalez & Waddington bring over general criminal defense lawyers?
A: We focus exclusively on military law, have decades of trial experience, published books on UCMJ practice, and global court-martial defense experience unmatched by civilian practitioners.

Q3: Are you available worldwide?
A: Yes, Gonzalez & Waddington represent service members across the globe, including deployed environments and overseas installations.

Q4: Do you defend both officers and enlisted members?
A: Absolutely. We represent service members of all ranks across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

Q5: What happens if I hire a local lawyer with little UCMJ experience?
A: You risk ineffective strategies, procedural errors, and lost opportunities that can permanently damage your career, reputation, and freedom.

Q6: Can Gonzalez & Waddington assist with administrative hearings like separation boards or BOIs?
A: Yes, we routinely defend service members in administrative separations, retirement grade determinations, BOIs, and NJP/Article 15 proceedings.

Contact Gonzalez & Waddington

If you are under investigation or facing UCMJ action, you cannot rely on inexperience. Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law, provide elite representation for officers and enlisted service members across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard. We travel worldwide and respond urgently when your career, reputation, and freedom are at stake.

Call now for a confidential consultation: 1-800-921-8607 or visit https://ucmjdefense.com.