Gonzalez & Waddington is a civilian military defense firm, founded by Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, that has defended service members at courts-martial and in UCMJ matters worldwide for more than two decades.
has the right to hire a civilian military defense lawyer of their choice.
Civilian counsel can appear in any branch of the armed forces and in any location worldwide.
This right is codified in the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM, R.C.M. 506).
The Role of Civilian Counsel
Civilian lawyers represent service members in partnership with, or in place of, appointed JAG defense counsel.
Many service members use both: the JAG provides procedural support and access on base, while the civilian attorney leads the defense strategy and trial execution.
- Full trial rights: Civilian counsel can argue motions, cross-examine witnesses, and present your case.
- Global reach: Civilian lawyers regularly appear in overseas and deployed courts-martial.
- Independence: They answer only to you, not to the chain of command.
- Trial depth: Civilian defense counsel often bring decades of courtroom experience to complex UCMJ cases.
Why Civilian Counsel Can Be Critical
- Resource advantage: Civilian lawyers can hire private investigators, forensic experts, and consultants.
- Bandwidth: Unlike JAGs who juggle heavy caseloads, civilian lawyers focus more time on each client.
- High-stakes cases: In allegations like Article 120 sexual assault, homicide, or complex fraud, additional advocacy can be decisive.
- Two-lawyer team: Commands and prosecutors take cases more seriously when a civilian lawyer is added to the defense team.
Common Questions
Can I keep my JAG if I hire civilian counsel?
Yes. You may keep your appointed JAG as co-counsel while your civilian lawyer leads the case.
Does hiring civilian counsel delay my trial?
No. Civilian counsel coordinate with the court and JAG system to integrate seamlessly into the process.
Can a civilian lawyer appear overseas?
Yes. Civilian military defense lawyers routinely travel to bases worldwide to represent clients.
Will the military respect a civilian lawyer?
Yes. Prosecutors and commands recognize experienced civilian attorneys and often prepare more carefully when they are involved.
Why Gonzalez & Waddington
We have defended service members at courts-martial across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Our attorneys bring independence and trial-tested strategy to the fight, ensuring that our clients are never outmatched by government resources.
Call: 1-800-921-8607 |
ucmjdefense.com
Talk to a Military Defense Lawyer
If you are facing a court-martial, add experience and independence to your defense team. Call 1-800-921-8607 today.
Disclaimer
This page is for educational purposes only and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Always consult an attorney about your case.
Video transcript
Transcript of the video “TDS vs Civilian Military Defense Lawyer: Key Differences,” from Gonzalez & Waddington.
Read the full transcript of this video
Going with a free military lawyer can, in many cases, put you at risk of getting convicted of a crime even when you wouldn’t have been convicted otherwise. And I’ll just tell you why. I have 25 years of doing this. I’ve written multiple textbooks. I teach this across the country.
I’m a professor at a law school. I’ve been doing this day in and day out for 25 years. Some of the lawyers that I work with on cases, some of the military lawyers, have never done a case. They don’t want to be defense lawyers. They’re ordered to go do the job.
So, you’re going to get a much more experienced professional defense if you hire someone with decades of experience. Now, I want to talk about command pressure. Command pressure is real. I’ve heard commanders and senior enlisted say things like, “If you have nothing to hide, then cooperate.” You might feel that refusing makes you look guilty.
Well, you’re better off refusing to make a statement and look guilty than actually be convicted and found guilty. You might worry about your evaluation, your promotion, your security clearance, your reputation. But, here’s what you need to understand. Invoking your Article 31 rights cannot legally be used against you as evidence. Commanders cannot override your constitutional and statutory rights.
And if they think you committed a crime, whether you make a statement or not, they’re still going to do all those things that you fear them doing, like giving you a bad eval. In many cases, whether you’re guilty or not, they’re going to do these side things that are going to mess you up, like they’re going to flag you, they’re not going to let you get promoted, even if you’re innocent. So, whether you make a statement or not has nothing to do with that.
Recent Blogs
- Nonpunitive Letter of Caution vs. Punitive Letter of Reprimand: What Navy and Marine Corps Officers Need to KnowNovember 6, 2026
- First 24 Hours After CGIS Contacts You: What Coast Guard Members Should DoNovember 6, 2026
- First 24 Hours After OSI Contacts You: What Airmen and Guardians Should DoNovember 6, 2026
- First 24 Hours After NCIS Contacts You: What Sailors and Marines Should DoNovember 6, 2026
- First 24 Hours After CID Contacts You: What Soldiers Should DoNovember 6, 2026
- Is Hiring the Cheapest Military Defense Lawyer a Mistake?November 6, 2026