Photo attribution: Vecteezy At Ganz and Bridges Law Office, we often get inquiries from clients asking whether the military can separate them for misconduct while they are also pending a separation for medical reasons. The simple answer is “yes,” the military can involuntarily separate a servicemember for misconduct even though the Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or […]
Author Archives: Mark Bridges
24
Sep
Sep
As part of the Military Justice Act of 2016, for the first time ever, Congress created a Special Court-Martial consisting of a Military Judge Alone. Starting in 2019, military prosecutors and their convening authorities have the ability to refer court-martial charges to a Special Court-Martial consisting of a Military Judge Alone. This means the accused […]
23
Aug
Aug
Some people serve in the military for a career, while others may serve for only one tour of duty. When enlisting in the military, the amount of time an individual serves is determined by their enlistment contract in most cases. However, some do not serve their entire enlistment contract. Time in the military can prematurely […]
29
Jun
Jun
“I just received a letter of reprimand. It says that I have three days to respond. What should I do?” As the top Honolulu Letter of Reprimand (GOMOR) Lawyer, this is a question we hear quite often. If you find yourself in this situation, we want you to know you’re not alone. The legal team […]
27
Jun
Jun
Sexual assault in the military is a significant issue. In fact, sexual assault and other sexual offenses under the UCMJ are arguably the most commonly charged offenses at a court martial. Society, and Congress in turn, have put a spotlight on sexual assault in the military over the past 15 years. What Does “Sexual Assault […]
15
Jun
Jun
The punitive articles of the UCMJ are a series of statutes (laws) that specify criminal offenses in all branches of the Armed Forces. Let’s take a look at the evolution of UCMJ Offenses. Military members have been subject to a military criminal code since before the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. The Articles […]
06
Jun
Jun
Ask a Court Martial Military Attorney Although most trial decisions are made by the defense attorney on the case, there are a few decisions that an accused (the military term for “defendant”) must make. In a court martial criminal trial in the military, one of the decisions an accused must make is whether to request […]
31
May
May
Over 85 percent of veterans receive an honorable discharge when they leave military service. Veterans with an honorable discharge are entitled to all VA benefits and future employers will look favorably upon their service. If you are a veteran, you should be familiar with the benefits the VA offers. Unfortunately, some military members leave the […]
22
Apr
Apr
As an active U.S. military member, nothing about your life is like a civilian. Your day-to-day requires you to live a very special lifestyle. When you need legal representation, why would you hire someone who doesn’t understand this? Rather than take a chance, it’s recommended that you retain the services of a court martial lawyer. […]