Fort Lauderdale Military Defense Lawyers – Florida UCMJ Attorneys

Elite Civilian Military Defense Attorneys Serving Fort Lauderdale, Broward County & South Florida

Fort Lauderdale, located in the heart of South Florida’s Atlantic coast, is home to a large population of active-duty military, reservists, National Guard members, Coast Guard personnel, veterans, and service members detailed to federal and joint assignments. With U.S. Coast Guard units operating out of Port Everglades, close proximity to U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) in Miami, Special Operations South (SOCSOUTH), Homestead Air Reserve Base, and various maritime and aviation missions, Fort Lauderdale is one of the most military-active metropolitan regions in the country.

At the same time, Fort Lauderdale’s nightlife, tourism, and international crowd create a unique legal environment filled with risks. Military personnel assigned to or living near Fort Lauderdale — including those working remotely, on temporary duty (TDY), or stationed at nearby Coast Guard units — face a higher likelihood of being accused of misconduct, experiencing police encounters, or becoming entangled in false allegations.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is the premier military defense firm for service members in South Florida. Our attorneys, Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, defend service members worldwide in UCMJ criminal cases, NJPs, administrative separations, Boards of Inquiry (BOIs), CGIS/OSI/NCIS interrogations, and high-stakes misconduct allegations. If you are a service member in Fort Lauderdale and your career is on the line, we bring decades of elite courtroom experience to your defense.

Why Fort Lauderdale Is High-Risk for Military Legal Trouble

Fort Lauderdale — especially Las Olas Boulevard, the beach district, and downtown nightlife — is one of the highest-risk cities in the United States for military personnel when it comes to allegations of misconduct. The environment is fast-paced, crowded, alcohol-heavy, and full of interactions between service members and intoxicated civilians, tourists, or individuals unfamiliar with the military lifestyle.

Military personnel in Fort Lauderdale face elevated risks because:

• Alcohol and nightlife culture often lead to exaggerated accusations or misunderstandings
• Tourists and transient populations frequently call police at the slightest conflict
• Bar and club environments produce consent disputes, fights, and mistaken identity cases
• Domestic disputes between military members and civilian partners escalate quickly with Broward County law enforcement
• Local police escalate minor incidents when they learn a suspect is in the military
• Joint operations involving Coast Guard, CBP, ICE, DEA, and others result in cross-reporting to commands
• Coast Guard Sector Miami frequently initiates administrative separation following civilian police involvement

In short: Broward County is a dangerous place for service members who find themselves accused of anything — even minor misconduct.

Branches We Serve in Fort Lauderdale & South Florida

We defend service members from every branch operating in or near Fort Lauderdale:

• U.S. Coast Guard units at Port Everglades and USCG Sector Miami
• Homestead Air Reserve Base
• Army & Air National Guard units in Broward and Miami-Dade
• SOCSOUTH & USSOUTHCOM
• Navy & Marine Reservists drilling in South Florida
• DoD contractors & joint-task personnel
• Service members stationed elsewhere but accused of misconduct while visiting Fort Lauderdale

No matter where your parent command is located — Florida, Virginia, California, Hawaii, overseas or afloat — what happens in Fort Lauderdale can follow you home and destroy your military career.

UCMJ Criminal Defense for Fort Lauderdale Service Members

Our firm defends service members accused of any crime or misconduct under the UCMJ. Many cases originate from:

• Nightlife in Las Olas Boulevard
• Fort Lauderdale Beach after dark
• Hotel or Airbnb gatherings
• Off-duty conflicts with civilians
• Domestic disputes involving alcohol
• Taxi/Uber encounters

Common UCMJ Charges in Fort Lauderdale

• Article 120 — Sexual assault allegations arising from nightlife environments
• Article 128b — Domestic violence accusations
• Article 112a — Drug allegations: cocaine, MDMA, THC vapes, pills
• Article 92 — Failure to obey orders, liberty incidents, fraternization
• Article 107 — False official statements after police contact
• Article 134 — Disorderly conduct, indecent behavior, adultery, obstruction
• Article 86 — AWOL/failure to report

We defend you in:

• General courts-martial
• Special courts-martial
• Summary courts-martial
• Article 32 preliminary hearings

Our approach: dismantle the government’s case using aggressive cross-examination, digital forensics, social media evidence, toxicology, phone metadata, and psychological analysis.

Administrative Separations, BOIs & NJP Defense in Fort Lauderdale

Administrative actions can be more dangerous than courts-martial because the burden of proof is lower — and commands often prefer fast, quiet removals rather than complex criminal trials.

We defend service members against:

• NJP / Captain’s Mast / Article 15
• Enlisted administrative separation boards
• Officer Boards of Inquiry (BOI)
• Security clearance suspension
• Adverse evals & reprimands
• Show cause notices

Common triggers for separation in Fort Lauderdale:

• Civilian police arrests
• Nightlife incidents in Las Olas or A1A
• Disputes with civilian partners
• Public intoxication allegations
• Social media misunderstandings
• Complaints from intoxicated civilians
• Minor incidents blown out of proportion by command

Geographic Hotspots for Legal Trouble in Broward County

1. Las Olas Boulevard

• Nightclubs with heavy alcohol use
• Consent misunderstandings
• Civilian altercations leading to arrests
• Bodycam footage often taken out of context

2. Fort Lauderdale Beach & A1A

• Tourist encounters
• Disorderly conduct allegations
• Fights & police involvement

3. Downtown Fort Lauderdale

• Hotel incidents
• Elevator or hallway misunderstandings
• Disputes interpreted as “battery” or “assault”

4. Hollywood & Dania Beach

• Domestic disturbances
• High call-out neighborhoods
• Conflicts with intoxicated civilians

Why Fort Lauderdale Service Members Choose Gonzalez & Waddington

Because when everything is at stake — career, freedom, clearance, retirement, reputation — you need a military defense firm built to win.

• Former JAG Michael Waddington — renowned trial attorney with international UCMJ experience
• Attorney Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington — expert cross-examiner and administrative defense strategist
• Decades of global courtroom experience
• Authors of best-selling books on military litigation
• We take fewer cases to deliver maximum preparation
• National reputation for winning the toughest UCMJ cases

Pro Tips for Service Members in Fort Lauderdale Under Investigation

• NEVER speak to police, CGIS, NCIS, OSI, or CID without a lawyer.
• Save all digital evidence immediately — texts, DMs, videos, call logs.
• Do not contact the accuser under any circumstances.
• Avoid nightlife areas until the case is resolved.
• Refuse consent searches to phone, home, or vehicle.
• Write down your timeline with details and witnesses.
• Hire a civilian military lawyer early — early action prevents disaster.

Your Military Future in Fort Lauderdale Depends on Immediate Action

If you were arrested, accused, or are being investigated in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, you must assume the government is already building its case. You need elite legal firepower immediately to protect your freedom, rank, clearance, and career.

➤ Schedule Your Confidential Consultation with Gonzalez & Waddington

Authoritative .mil reference: United States Coast Guard

Fort Lauderdale Military Defense Lawyers – Frequently Asked Questions