We are civilian criminal defense lawyers who only represent military clients and only handle military cases. If you are in trouble in the military, we are your defenders!
If you are in trouble in the military, you have too much at stake for your military career and future not to mount the strongest defense possible. For Attorney Richard V. Stevens, that strength has grown over more than a quarter century of military law experience. Mr. Stevens is a former active duty military JAG attorney, and he has been handling military cases since 1995, as a civilian defense counsel since 2001. Over the many years of military defense experience, Attorney Stevens has been endorsed and invited as a speaker and instructor in military law, and he has repeatedly been recommended as an attorney to represent military clients, by former military judges and former senior JAG lawyers. Mr. Stevens, and the attorneys in his firm, have combined decades of military law experience. Attorney Stevens established this military defense law firm to provide zealous defense for members of the military who are facing military investigations, disciplinary actions, adverse actions, board hearings, and courts-martial.
A military court-martial trial, adverse board hearing, disciplinary action, other administrative adverse action, or investigation could seriously jeopardize your military career, rank, reputation, future retirement and benefits, and even your freedom. Depending on the action, you could face prison time, discharge, demotion, lost or reduced pension, or other devastating professional and personal consequences.
The critical decisions you make during this difficult time will affect not just your military career — they will affect your future and that of your family. Choosing an attorney to defend you is one of those critical decisions.
You may feel that things are happening very quickly and you’re overwhelmed. You may never have imagined yourself in this situation, and you don’t quite know what to do. We understand the stress you’re under and the difficulties you face. We also understand the importance of the decisions you must now make and the many questions you now have.
To see all the different types of military cases we handle, please consult the “Practice Areas” and “Military Offenses” pages/tabs on this site for more information about specific cases and topics within the military justice system. In addition, our FAQ page answers some common questions that callers have: FAQ Page
When you are in trouble in the military, you have to consider what’s needed to ensure your rights are being protected, your defense has a voice, and you are seeking the most positive possible outcome in your case. Civilian criminal defense attorney Richard V. Stevens, and his military defense law practice, have a sole purpose: to provide our nation’s military members with experienced and aggressive legal representation in the face of adverse military actions and discipline, such as courts-martial.
Attorney Richard V. Stevens is a former active duty JAG and a military law specialist who exclusively represents military members in military cases – he only handles military cases, and he and the lawyers in his firm have decades of military legal, and military justice, experience. Over the course of his career, handling cases in all military branches, Attorney Stevens has earned a reputation as a premier military trial defense litigator, and he is one of the most recognized names in the specialized legal practice area of military defense and serving as civilian court-martial defense lawyer.
Attorney Stevens is dedicated to protecting the rights of our nation’s military members and to aggressively defending them against all manner of military adverse actions – to include court-martial trial, court-martial clemency, court-martial appeal, administrative discharge/separation, Article 15 or nonjudicial punishment (N.J.P.), Uniform Code of Military Justice (U.C.M.J.) discipline, and other military disciplinary actions, investigations, and adverse actions (i.e. promotion, assignment, performance evaluation, security clearance, etc.). Please see “About Us,” “Practice Areas” and “Military Offenses” pages for a more thorough description of the attorneys and the types of military cases we handle.
After you joined the United States military, you became subject to a justice system that, in many ways, is very different than the civilian justice system. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is the statutory law that governs the military and its military justice system. Along with the UCMJ and the punitive Articles that can be charged as military crimes, the Rules for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.), Military Rules of Evidence (M.R.E), and Rules governing NonJudicial Punishment (Article 15, NJP) are all included within the Manual for Courts-Martial (M.C.M.) which is the primary textual source for military law and procedure. Each service branch also has their own rules, regulations, instructions, and other guidance that governs their duties, responsibilities, and conduct.
The civilian justice system is run by career prosecutors. The military discipline and military justice systems are tools of military commanders to maintain good order and discipline and force readiness. For lower level military adverse actions, the legal office (JAG, prosecutors) advise commanders, but the JAGs do not make the decisions. The commanders make the decisions. Those decisions are made based on uniquely military considerations. For example, in the civilian world, being late for work or acting in a manner that is not considered gentlemanly are not crimes. In the military, being late for work is a crime in violation of UCMJ Article 86 (failure to go) and acting in an manner that is not gentlemanly could be a crime in violation of UCMJ Article 133 (conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman). These are just two examples of how conduct in the military can be punished as a “crime,” that would never be considered criminal in the civilian world.
In military cases involving more serious allegations, the decisions are now being made by the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). That is a recently established office in which experienced military JAG attorneys on the government/prosecution side make the decisions about what to do with a case – take it trial by court-martial, or send it back to the commanders to make the decisions and potentially take a lower level adverse action.
Within the military justice system, there are a variety of adverse and/or disciplinary actions commanders can use to enforce good order and discipline and promote force readiness. These options range from mild to severe, and can not only negatively impact a military member’s career, but can forever impact their civilian futures as well. Some of the commander’s adverse action options include counseling, admonition, reprimand (LOR, GOMOR), Article 15 (nonjudicial punishment, NJP, Captain’s Mast, Office Hours), negative performance reports (evaluations), demotion, professional disqualification, administration discharge (“chapter”, separation), and/or the OSTC could pursue a court-martial (military criminal trials).
In a perfect world, military commander’s actions, or OSTC decisions, are all fair, appropriate, and justified. It is not a perfect world! Commanders are human beings. Military prosecutors are human beings. Human beings have flaws. Some military commanders and/or prosecutors make errors, have biases, abuse authority, have malice – take actions that are not fair, are not appropriate, and are not justified. On those occasions when such unjust actions are taken, which could have such dramatic impacts on a military member’s future, there is a need for experienced and aggressive defense counsel.
One of the most common military disciplinary actions is NonJudicial Punishment. This is often referred to as “NJP,” or “Captain’s Mast” in the Navy, or “Office Hours” in the Marine Corps. It is also called “Article 15,” because it is a punishment authorized by UCMJ Article 15.
During NonJudicial Punishment proceedings, the Commanding Officer (CO) acts as accuser, judge, and jury. The CO serves the paperwork accusing the military member of violating the UCMJ. Then, after considering the written and/or personal presentation of the accused military member, the CO determines if the member is “guilty” of the allegations and what punishment should be given if the member is found “guilty.” If a military member is found “guilty” and punished under Article 15, that is NOT considered a criminal conviction. It is an administrative disciplinary tool with serious military consequences, but it is not a criminal conviction.
Unlike other military adverse actions, a military member who is served NJP paperwork does not have to accept the NonJudicial Punishment. The member can turn down the NJP, but this is a risky proposition and should only be done after serious consideration and legal consultation. It should first be understood that accepting NJP does NOT mean the military member is admitting guilt. It simply means the military member accepts that the case will be decided by the CO. A military member who accepts NJP can still plead not guilty and argue to the CO why he/she is not guilty and why the NJP action should be terminated.
Turning down NJP is a demand for trial by court-martial. If NJP is turned down and court-martial is demanded, and the case proceeds to court-martial trial, the military member risks a possible federal criminal conviction and sentence that could include punitive discharge and prison time. So, the risks of such a decision are high.
The most serious military cases are heard in a court-martial. A court-martial is a military criminal trial. There are three types of court-martial, with different levels of severity.
A SPCM or GCM look very similar to a civilian criminal trial. The procedural rules and rules of evidence are very similar to what are used in civilian federal criminal court trials. Depending on the type of court-martial, if there is a conviction and qualifying sentence, the case may be heard in the military appeals system.
If a court-martial sentence qualifies for it, the case would be considered by a military appellate court. Each military branch has their own military appellate court. There are:
If the appeal at the military service branch court of appeals is not successful, the case might be heard by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF). If the appeal is not successful at CAAF, in very rare circumstances, the appeal might even be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Military disciplinary actions, particularly courts-martial, should be taken very seriously. The career and future impacts can be severe and long lasting. Not only could a court-martial trial result in a federal criminal conviction, a court-martial sentence could include a punitive discharge (dismissal for officers, bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge for enlisted military members) and years in prison. In addition, military retirement, and VA benefits could be lost and there could be other consequences such as loss of professional license or, for certain cases, sex offender registration.
Because of the possible serious ramifications of military adverse actions, accused military members need to be proactive and make sure his or her rights are fully protected. That begins with the decision about a defense lawyer. Because the military disciplinary and military justice systems are unique, and the military culture itself is unique, it is important to seek a lawyer who understands and practices within these unique systems. A lawyer who knows the rules, regulations, laws, and customs that apply in the military.
If you are under investigation for allegedly violating the UCMJ or service specific rules or regulations, or you are already facing an adverse action, disciplinary action, or court-martial, contact us to discuss your case and see how we may be able to help you.
Based on our extensive military law experience, we fully evaluate the unique facts of your case, and will provide you with an unbiased and honest assessment of the situation. We won’t “sugar-coat” our assessment and advice so you will be able to make fully informed and difficult decisions, and so you know what to expect. We always look to what strategies might be successful for the case. Legal issues and motions that can be raised. Investigative errors that can be exploited. Factual issues that can be highlighted. The most persuasive arguments that can be delivered. While we can never guarantee a result, we have a proven record of success over many years of military law practice. Our law firm exists to serve and defend military members who are facing these difficulties.
Call us, toll free, at 888-399-0693. It may be the most important phone call you ever made.
Years of trial experience as a military prosecutor and military defense attorney, as well as state and federal trial attorney. Represents and defends members of all military branches worldwide in all manner of military adverse actions. Extensive experience and success in defending clients in complex military criminal trials involving the most serious offenses. READ ATTORNEY BIO
Recently, a military noncommissioned officer defended by attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.) had the alleged sexual assault case he faced dropped by the military before court-martial charges were preferred against him (UCMJ A [...]
Recently, a senior field grade military officer defended by attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.) was cleared of the misconduct alleged against him as the unit commander. Because this was an administrative disciplinary ca [...]
