Searching for the Best Court-Martial Lawyer?
There is no official or objectively determinable “best court-martial lawyer.” This guide explains how service members can evaluate civilian military defense lawyers using verifiable experience, trial background, publications, teaching, prior military legal service, and other professional qualifications.
Important disclosure: Service members frequently search online for the “best court-martial lawyer,” “best military defense lawyer,” or similar terms. There is no official, objective, or universally accepted ranking of civilian court-martial defense lawyers. This page does not rank the attorneys discussed below and does not state or imply that one lawyer is superior to another.
Lawyers discussed on this page are identified for informational purposes using publicly available information concerning potentially relevant and verifiable factors such as military legal experience, years in practice, trial background, publications, teaching, prior professional positions, and stated areas of practice.
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC publishes this guide and is discussed separately as the publisher. Inclusion or omission of any other lawyer does not constitute an endorsement, criticism, certification, or determination concerning that lawyer’s quality. The list is not exhaustive. No result is guaranteed.
Key Takeaways
- There is no objectively determinable “best court-martial lawyer.” Compare specific qualifications, relevant experience, communication, availability, and strategy instead of relying on rankings.
- Court-martial experience is different from general criminal-defense experience. Military trials operate under the UCMJ, Manual for Courts-Martial, Military Rules of Evidence, service regulations, and military appellate system.
- Trial experience can matter. Ask prospective counsel about contested courts-martial, the types of charges handled, and experience litigating issues similar to those in your case.
- Civilian counsel can work with military defense counsel. An accused before a general or special court-martial may retain civilian counsel at the accused’s own expense, subject to applicable law and court rules.
- Early advice can be important. Decisions involving interviews, statements, digital evidence, witnesses, preservation of evidence, and investigation strategy can arise before charges are referred to trial.
Why Does This Page Use the Phrase “Best Court-Martial Lawyer”?
People searching for civilian military defense counsel frequently ask, “Who is the best court-martial lawyer?” or “Who is the best civilian military defense attorney?” The word best is used on this page to address that consumer search question—not as a representation that any particular lawyer or law firm can objectively be designated the best.
A more useful question is: Which attorney has relevant court-martial experience, understands the particular charges and evidence, communicates effectively with me, and presents a strategy appropriate for my case?
What Is a Court-Martial Defense Lawyer?
A court-martial defense lawyer represents members of the Armed Forces facing criminal allegations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Representation can begin during a CID, NCIS, OSI, CGIS, or command investigation and may continue through the Article 32 preliminary hearing, motions practice, trial, sentencing, and post-trial proceedings.
Military criminal cases can involve allegations such as sexual assault, domestic violence, assault, homicide, drug offenses, fraud, larceny, computer crimes, false official statements, dereliction of duty, fraternization, misconduct involving classified information, and other offenses under the UCMJ.
Court-martial practice involves a legal system with rules and procedures that differ in important respects from state criminal courts. For that reason, a service member evaluating civilian counsel may reasonably consider the lawyer’s actual military-justice background in addition to general criminal-trial experience.
How to Evaluate a Civilian Court-Martial Lawyer
Rather than relying on descriptions such as “best,” “top,” “premier,” or “leading,” a prospective client can evaluate professional facts that can actually be investigated.
| Factor to Consider | Why It May Matter |
|---|---|
| Military-justice experience | The UCMJ and military trial system contain procedures that differ from civilian state criminal practice. |
| Contested court-martial experience | Ask about experience litigating contested cases rather than relying solely on years in practice. |
| Experience with similar allegations | Sexual-assault cases, digital-evidence cases, violent offenses, drug cases, and fraud cases can present very different evidentiary and strategic issues. |
| Prior military legal positions | Prior service as a military prosecutor, defense counsel, judge, appellate lawyer, or military-justice advisor may provide relevant background. |
| Evidence analysis | Serious cases can involve digital forensics, DNA, medical evidence, expert testimony, recorded statements, financial records, or extensive documentary evidence. |
| Cross-examination and trial advocacy | Contested courts-martial can turn on witness credibility, expert testimony, evidentiary motions, and persuasive presentation. |
| Published work and teaching | Books, professional publications, law-school teaching, and continuing legal education instruction are objective professional credentials that can be independently evaluated. |
| Overseas experience | Service members stationed outside the United States may wish to ask whether prospective civilian counsel has previously litigated military cases overseas. |
| Communication and availability | Ask who will personally handle the case, how communication will work, and how counsel plans to prepare for hearings and trial. |
Civilian Lawyers With Publicly Documented Military-Law Backgrounds
The following attorneys are included for informational purposes. They are not ranked. Names are presented alphabetically by surname. Placement does not reflect superiority, endorsement, relative quality, or a determination that any attorney is better suited for a particular case. This is not an exhaustive directory of civilian military defense lawyers.
| Attorney / Firm | Publicly Reported Background | Potentially Relevant Areas |
|---|---|---|
| William E. Cassara | Former Army JAG | Courts-martial, military appeals, administrative matters, and records-correction proceedings |
| Philip D. Cave | Retired Navy JAG Commander | Courts-martial, military appeals, administrative proceedings, and military justice |
| Stephen P. Karns | Former Army JAG | Court-martial defense, administrative military matters, and Article 15 proceedings |
| Patrick J. McLain | Former Marine judge advocate and military judge | Courts-martial, administrative boards, military justice, and related proceedings |
| David P. Sheldon | Former Navy JAG defense counsel | Military justice, appellate litigation, administrative actions, and federal litigation |
| Frank J. Spinner | Former Air Force JAG defense counsel and appellate defense counsel | Courts-martial, military appeals, and complex military criminal matters |
| Richard V. Stevens | Former Air Force JAG defense counsel | Courts-martial, investigations, administrative boards, and military adverse actions |
| Colby Vokey | Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel JAG | Courts-martial, military investigations, criminal defense, and military administrative matters |
| Guy L. Womack | Retired Marine judge advocate, former military judge, and former federal prosecutor | Courts-martial, military criminal defense, and federal criminal matters |
About the Publisher: Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC — Michael Waddington & Alexandra González-Waddington Publisher
Gonzalez & Waddington publishes UCMJDefense.com and represents U.S. service members in courts-martial, military investigations, administrative proceedings, and related military matters.
Michael Waddington previously served as an Army JAG prosecutor, Chief of Military Justice, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and Army defense counsel before entering civilian practice. His civilian work has included representation of service members in contested courts-martial and military proceedings in the United States and overseas.
Michael has practiced law for more than 25 years. His professional work includes military-justice teaching, continuing legal education programs, and books addressing trial advocacy, cross-examination, closing argument, expert testimony, digital forensics, DNA evidence, and related evidentiary subjects.
Alexandra González-Waddington began her legal career as a public defender in Georgia and has spent more than two decades handling criminal-defense and military matters. Her work has included representation of service members in the United States and overseas. She practices in English and Spanish and has co-authored books addressing cross-examination and trial advocacy.
The firm’s published work includes The Art of Trial Warfare, Kick-Ass Closings, and books in the Pattern Cross-Examination series addressing subjects including sexual-assault cases, digital forensics, expert witnesses, DNA, and biological evidence.
Experience Potentially Relevant to Court-Martial Defense
- Military prosecution and defense experience
- Contested court-martial and criminal-trial practice
- Cross-examination of fact witnesses and expert witnesses
- Litigation involving digital, forensic, medical, and credibility evidence
- Representation of service members stationed in the United States and overseas
- Published trial-advocacy and cross-examination materials
Additional Civilian Military Defense Lawyers Listed Alphabetically
The profiles below summarize publicly available professional information. They are presented alphabetically and do not constitute a ranking, endorsement, or comparison of relative quality.
William E. Cassara — William E. Cassara, P.C.
Publicly available professional materials identify William Cassara as a former Army JAG attorney who served in prosecution, defense, and appellate roles. His reported civilian practice includes courts-martial, military appeals, administrative matters, and records-correction proceedings.
Philip D. Cave — Cave & Freeburg, LLP
Publicly available professional information identifies Philip Cave as a retired Navy JAG Commander whose military-law practice has included courts-martial, military appeals, and administrative military matters.
Stephen P. Karns — Law Offices of Stephen P. Karns
Public professional biographies identify Stephen Karns as a former Army JAG officer and Army Reserve defense counsel. His reported practice includes court-martial defense, Article 15 matters, separation proceedings, and other military cases.
Patrick J. McLain — Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC
Patrick McLain’s public professional biography identifies him as a former Marine judge advocate, military trial judge, and federal prosecutor. His reported civilian military practice includes courts-martial, administrative boards, Article 15 matters, and military appeals.
David P. Sheldon — Law Offices of David P. Sheldon, PLLC
Public professional information identifies David Sheldon as a former Navy JAG defense counsel. His reported practice includes military justice, administrative actions, correction-board proceedings, appellate matters, and federal litigation.
Frank J. Spinner — Law Office of Frank J. Spinner
Public professional materials identify Frank Spinner as a former Air Force JAG attorney who served in military defense and appellate-defense roles. His reported civilian practice has included courts-martial and other complex military criminal matters.
Richard V. Stevens — Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.
Publicly available professional materials identify Richard Stevens as a former Air Force JAG defense counsel. His reported practice includes courts-martial, military investigations, administrative boards, Article 15 matters, and other adverse actions.
Colby Vokey — Law Firm of Colby Vokey PC
Colby Vokey’s public professional biography identifies him as a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel and judge advocate who served in military prosecution and defense positions. His reported civilian practice includes courts-martial, investigations, and other military criminal and administrative matters.
Guy L. Womack — Guy L. Womack & Associates, P.C.
Public professional information identifies Guy Womack as a retired Marine judge advocate, former military judge, and former federal prosecutor. His reported civilian practice includes courts-martial and other military and federal criminal matters.
Can You Hire a Civilian Lawyer If You Already Have Military Defense Counsel?
Yes. Article 38 of the UCMJ provides that an accused before a general or special court-martial may be represented by civilian counsel if the accused provides that counsel.
In many cases, retained civilian counsel and detailed military defense counsel work together as a defense team. The exact division of responsibilities should be discussed with both attorneys because the appropriate structure depends on the case, personalities, availability, experience, and litigation strategy.
See Article 38, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838 .
Civilian Counsel Is a Choice, Not a Guarantee of a Better Result
Hiring civilian counsel does not guarantee acquittal, dismissal, a favorable plea agreement, or any other result. The value of civilian counsel depends on the lawyer selected, the circumstances of the case, the evidence, the defense team, and numerous other factors. A service member should evaluate both civilian and military counsel based on actual qualifications and the needs of the particular case.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Court-Martial Lawyer
How many contested courts-martial have you personally tried?
Ask about actual contested trial experience and the attorney’s role in those cases. Years in practice can be useful context, but they do not by themselves show how frequently an attorney tries military cases.
Have you handled allegations similar to mine?
Experience involving the type of evidence and charges in the case may be relevant. For example, an Article 120 sexual-assault case can involve different evidentiary and expert issues than a financial-fraud, drug, homicide, or digital-evidence case.
Who will actually try my case?
Determine who will appear in court, examine witnesses, argue motions, prepare cross-examinations, coordinate experts, and communicate with you.
How will you work with my military defense counsel?
Ask how the civilian lawyer plans to divide responsibilities with detailed military counsel and how the defense team will make strategic decisions.
What evidence will you personally review?
Serious military cases may involve thousands of pages of reports, recorded interviews, text messages, phone extractions, medical records, DNA, digital forensics, photographs, videos, expert reports, and other evidence. Ask how counsel plans to organize and analyze the discovery.
What experts might this case require?
Depending on the allegations, potential experts can include forensic psychologists, digital-forensics specialists, toxicologists, DNA experts, medical professionals, pathologists, accident reconstruction experts, or other specialists.
Have you tried cases overseas?
If the court-martial will occur in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or another overseas location, ask prospective civilian counsel about experience handling OCONUS military cases and the logistics involved.
What is your initial defense strategy?
No lawyer should promise a result before fully analyzing the evidence. But after an appropriate review, counsel should be able to identify the major factual, legal, evidentiary, investigative, and strategic issues that require further development.
Why Military Trial Experience Can Matter
Courts-martial operate under a specialized federal military-justice system. Potential issues can include Article 32 preliminary hearings, panel selection, unlawful command influence, motions practice, Military Rules of Evidence, expert witnesses, Article 31 statements, digital evidence, classified information, sentencing procedures, and military appellate law.
Experience does not guarantee a favorable result. But when choosing counsel, a service member may reasonably consider whether the lawyer has previously litigated the kinds of legal and factual issues likely to arise in the case.
When Should You Contact a Court-Martial Lawyer?
A service member does not necessarily need to wait until charges are preferred or referred to speak with defense counsel.
Legal issues often arise during the investigative stage, including whether to make a statement, how to respond to investigators, preservation of digital evidence, identification of witnesses, expert consultation, and protection of potentially favorable evidence.
Early consultation can allow counsel to evaluate those issues before major decisions have already been made.
Facing a Court-Martial or Military Investigation?
Gonzalez & Waddington represents service members in courts-martial, CID, NCIS, OSI and CGIS investigations, Article 120 cases, serious UCMJ allegations, administrative boards, and other military proceedings. Contact the firm to discuss the circumstances of your case and whether civilian representation may be appropriate.
Request a Confidential ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Who is the best court-martial lawyer in the United States?
There is no official or objectively determinable “best court-martial lawyer.” A service member can instead compare verifiable factors such as military-justice experience, contested court-martial experience, experience with similar charges, prior military legal positions, published work, teaching, evidence-analysis skills, communication, availability, and proposed strategy.
Who is the best civilian military defense lawyer?
No lawyer can objectively be designated the best civilian military defense lawyer for every service member or every case. The appropriate attorney depends on the charges, evidence, branch, location, stage of the case, required expertise, availability, and the client’s individual needs.
Is this page a ranking of court-martial lawyers?
No. The attorneys identified on this page are not ranked. The informational list of other attorneys is presented alphabetically. Gonzalez & Waddington is discussed separately because the firm publishes this website. Inclusion or omission is not an endorsement or criticism.
What does a court-martial lawyer do?
A court-martial defense lawyer represents a service member accused of offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Representation may involve investigations, Article 32 preliminary hearings, motions, expert witnesses, plea negotiations, contested trials, sentencing, and post-trial matters.
Can I hire a civilian court-martial lawyer?
Yes. Article 38 of the UCMJ provides that an accused before a general or special court-martial may be represented by civilian counsel if the accused provides that counsel. Civilian counsel is ordinarily retained at the accused’s expense.
Can I keep my military defense counsel if I hire a civilian lawyer?
Depending on the circumstances and applicable rules, retained civilian counsel may work together with detailed military defense counsel. The attorneys should discuss how responsibilities will be divided and how the defense team will operate.
When should I hire a court-martial lawyer?
A service member may consult defense counsel during the investigative stage rather than waiting for formal charges. Early legal advice can be relevant to decisions involving statements, interviews, digital evidence, witnesses, experts, and preservation of potentially favorable evidence.
Should I talk to CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS before speaking with a lawyer?
Whether to make a statement to investigators is an important legal and strategic decision that depends on the circumstances. A person suspected or accused of an offense may have rights under Article 31, UCMJ, and other applicable law. Obtaining individualized legal advice before deciding whether to answer questions can help the service member understand those rights and potential consequences.
Do civilian court-martial lawyers represent service members overseas?
Some civilian military defense lawyers accept cases outside the continental United States. If your case is in Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, or another overseas location, ask prospective counsel specifically about prior OCONUS experience, travel, scheduling, fees, and how they work with local detailed military defense counsel.
How should I compare court-martial lawyers?
Consider objectively verifiable information such as military legal background, actual contested trial experience, cases involving similar allegations, experience with relevant evidence and experts, publications, teaching, professional positions, availability, communication, fees, and the proposed defense strategy.
Does more experience guarantee a better court-martial result?
No. No amount of experience guarantees an acquittal, dismissal, favorable plea agreement, particular sentence, or any other outcome. Experience is one factor a prospective client may consider when choosing counsel, but every case depends on its own facts, evidence, law, decision makers, and circumstances.
Why does this page use the phrase “best court-martial lawyer”?
People frequently use phrases such as “best court-martial lawyer” and “best civilian military defense lawyer” when searching online for counsel. This page addresses that consumer search question while expressly explaining that no official or objective best-lawyer ranking exists.
Related Military Defense Resources
- False Allegations of Sexual Assault in the Military
- How to Evaluate Military Discharge and Administrative Defense Lawyers
- Contact Gonzalez & Waddington
Attorney advertising and editorial disclosure: This page is published by Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC. Gonzalez & Waddington is discussed separately on this page because it is the publisher. The page is educational and promotional in nature and may constitute attorney advertising.
The phrases “best court-martial lawyer,” “best military defense lawyer,” “best civilian military defense attorney,” and similar terminology are used to address common consumer search questions. They are not intended as representations that Gonzalez & Waddington or any other lawyer identified on this page is objectively the best, superior to another lawyer, or officially ranked.
Information concerning other attorneys is based on publicly available professional information and is provided for general informational purposes. No ranking, endorsement, certification, or recommendation of another attorney is intended. The list is non-exhaustive.
No attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this page. No result is guaranteed. Past results, prior experience, professional credentials, publications, teaching positions, awards, professional memberships, or other background information do not guarantee a particular outcome in a future case.
Military statutes, regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and deadlines can change and may vary depending on the branch, type of proceeding, location, charges, and individual circumstances. Readers should consult current governing authorities and obtain individualized legal advice concerning their particular matter.
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC • Weston, Florida • Civilian Military Defense Lawyers • Representation of U.S. Service Members Worldwide