Serving in the US Navy? Facing a court-martial, UCMJ action, Administrative Separation Board, or other Adverse Administrative Action? Call our experienced civilian Navy military defense lawyers at 1-800-921-8607 for a free consultation.
“Our military defense lawyers are among the most experienced and hard-hitting in the world. With an unparalleled track record, we provide aggressive, strategic defense tailored to each client’s unique situation. Trust us to fight relentlessly for your rights and deliver the best possible outcome.” (Michael Waddington, Military Defense Lawyer)
“I was accused of Sexual Assault in the military (Article 120). When my original ADC separated from active duty, I was terrified my case would fall through the cracks as I transitioned to another defense council. As a military officer, I had a lot to lose. After several deep discussions with loved ones it became abundantly clear it’s not worth chancing your freedom against military prosecutors. Enter Michael Waddington. From day one Mr. Waddington was active and involved with my case. He asked deep, probing questions, not because he was concerned with my feelings on the case, but because he cared about proving my innocence. I chose to retain my ADC, and they meshed effortlessly from my perspective. The weekend before my trial he flew in and we hit the ground running in preparation. During my trial, he handled the opening, closing, and cross-examination of several key witnesses. His cross-examination was bar-none in the courtroom. He knew what his objective was and how to expertly pull that information each time. He came off as an absolute professional and expert at what he does in the military courtroom. He poked holes in the prosecution’s case throughout. During the closings, you could see the prosecution making a last-ditch effort to discredit some of their witnesses. Mr. Waddington’s closing was simple and straight to the point of the case, regardless of the prosecutor’s many efforts to misdirect; he pointed out the MANY holes in their case they were unable to address. At the end of the day, I was acquitted of all charges and specifications. There really is no price I could place on the relief I feel knowing I can continue my career. The paralegal on my case commented at one point, “I’ve seen my fair share of civilian attorneys and Mr. Waddington is the best, by far.” Rest assured, he has your best interest in mind and he will be respected in whatever legal setting you may end up in.” (US Air Force E-6).
“I’m an active duty Army 1LT and I was wrongfully charged with two counts of Sexual Assault on a fellow Officer. I knew the odds were seriously stacked against me and the situation seemed truly hopeless. At first, I was hesitant to retain the Waddingtons given the cost of their representation but I ultimately decided on hiring Michael and his wife Alexandra for their legal services. This decision proved to be the best I have ever made. I was found not guilty of both charges and was fully acquitted. It is clear that both Michael and his wife truly care about their clients and will take the time to ensure you are prepared for your court-marshal. I believe their experience and professionalism made the difference in my case and I am confident I wouldn’t be writing this review had I solely went with TDS alone. They truly gave me a second chance at life and I would recommend them to anyone facing felony charges in the military. Don’t gamble with your future. You don’t want to look back on this decision wondering if things would have been different had you hired this team.” (US Army O-2).
“I consulted with Alexandra about an ongoing CID investigation that I had been dealing with for over a year. In my situation, I had an affair with a woman that became my stalker after I stopped returning her calls and texts. Given the current victim SHARP climate in the Army, I should have hired a lawyer much earlier instead of going with TDS. After my first conversation with Alexandra I decided to hire her firm. I am glad that I did. She gave me very realistic advice and listened to my side. Other lawyers I talked to we negative and judgmental. Alexandra gave me a sense of hope during a dark period of my life. Alexandra put together a plan of action for the court martial that was coming. We were able to do a cell phone extraction using Mr Roloff a digital expert that she recommended. Thankfully, we recovered a lot of helpful information, like photos and text messages from the woman falsely accusing me of sexual assault. Her advice and the info we got off of my cell phone were enough to get my false accuser to back down before charges were filed. I was able to continue with my life and career thanks to Alexandra. I recommend her for anyone that is falsely accused of a sex crime in the Army.” (US Army E-7).
“Mr. Waddington is an outstanding person who really cares about his clients! He is by far one of the most educated attorneys who you can depend on. I hired him not knowing what to expect and he exceeded all my expectations while answering any question I had. Mr. Waddington gave me another chance at life And he can give you one too! Without any doubt in my mind you should call for a consultation and find out for yourself that he will attack anything you have going on with confidence.” (US Marine Corps E-4).
“In May 2023 I found myself in a frightening situation. I had been notified by NCIS that I was being investigated and immediately began to spiral. I reached out to a few attorneys online and was not super impressed. A week after being notified and my mental health is suffering. Finally, I called the Waddingtons and was put in contact with Alexandra.. one of the first things she told me was that I had to take care of myself and to stay off Google (too late). None of the attorneys that I had spoken with to this point seemed to understand me as a service member who was in a bad situation AND a person. Alexandra got it. After speaking with her (also very bright-she seemed to have a plan right away), I knew the Waddingtons were the legal help I was going to use. The resolution of my case was really the best possible outcome (didn’t go to court martial-general discharge-adsep). I was prepared to take the Waddingtons as far in this case as necessary and was confident having them backing me. Just for the sake of your peace of mind, call them and let them help you!” (US Navy E-7).
“This man understood that he has a son in the military & would never want this to ever happen to his son. He didn’t talk down to me he talked to me as if I was an equal to him as if he has been through life an understands that this can happen to anyone. I can honestly talk all day of the great person Mr. & Mrs Waddington are so happy A.H. introduced me to you an we got this taken care of I hope the best for you an your family thank you so much for everything.” (US Navy E-4).
“I was falsely accused of abusive sexual contact while attending a military service academy. The investigation started the summer before my final year. During this time, I was in a very dark place. Although my commission and graduation were in jeopardy, I did not tell my parents until the holiday break. My parents wanted to look outside the military for a quality defense lawyer. We spoke with New York law firms and some lawyers we found online. We decided to hire Gonzalez and Waddington. A few other reviews mentioned that the Waddington’s were expensive. However, they were much less expensive than the New York lawyers that we talked to. They also had much more experience than the other law firms we interviewed. A few New York lawyers quoted my family over $150,000 for a trial, plus expenses. The Waddington firm cost much less, which surprised us a little. Trust me; they were well worth it. At first, I had faith in the system. Then, I realized the investigators assumed I was guilty when they did not interview many people who were favorable to me. When I heard from my friends that the investigators were trying to get my classmates to change their testimony, I knew they were gunning for me. After we hired them, Mr. Waddington worked closely with me to build a timeline, collect evidence, and assemble a list of witnesses. They gave me “homework,” which kept me active and engaged in my case. When I called, they listened to me and gave me hope. I could tell that they cared about me and my situation. Mr. Waddington explained that I was a key witness, so I documented as many details as possible. He guided me through the process, working together to build my defense. We decided to keep critical information hidden (texts, photos, statements) from the prosecution until the right time. Instead, we captured as much evidence as possible to use later. When the time came, Mr. Waddington used the information we gathered with great skill. He exposed the lies and holes in the prosecutor’s case. Finally, the Waddington’s cleared my name and reputation. Thankfully, I was commissioned and am on my way to a successful career. I owe my life and career to Michael and Alexandra. My family is forever grateful.” (US Army Cadet).
“Mr and Mrs waddington represented me at a board for accusations of sexual assault kidnapping and assault as well as various other offenses. From the moment I was notified that I was going to a board I knew that my command was going to throw everything they could at me. I embarrassed them and they accused me of a crime I was innocent of. I knew I needed a great attorney .I ended up getting two great attorneys a husband and wife team. Whenever I had questions or needed information about my case Mrs. Waddington was on it. She responded lighting quick and was clear concise and very comforting. Together with Mr.Waddington they prepared for conflict. We did get that conflict and to say the prosecution was outgunned outclassed would be underselling it. From the moment Mr.Waddington first opened his voice and presence was commanding and powerful. Mr.Waddington did something that the prosecution did not do. He appealed to the boards common sense and used reason and logic to win over our case something the prosecutors were trying vehemently to suppress. When cross examination came for the special investigators of our case we were all in for a treat. Mr.Waddington took control of the court room and embarrassed a rookie agent and showed how poor and inadequate a job he had done investigating my allegations. He failed to investigate my allegations impartially and had the audacity to say after raising his right hand that he was impartial. Mr.Waddington asked the agent if he used the DOD regulations to investigate my accusation, this man who graduated from special agent school did not even know what the regulations were. It goes to show you how careless they investigated my case not even following there own regulations. When a young man’s life is in jeopardy you should know those regulations. After a three day battle at the board, we had our closings. The prosecutation failed to appeal to the boards emotion. They name called me belittled me and degraded me. Mr.Waddington did the opposite throughout the closing and the trial. He showed that I was a human being with hope’s and dreams. A young man who swore an oath to defend the constitution just like those on the board. He used logic common sense and reasoning which the government just did not have. His Closing was powerful and straight to the point. The board deliberated and came back with all counts being unfounded. Let me tell you there were a lot of counts. It was incredible and reinvigorated me, a guy that at one point was down and out for the count. Mr and Mrs waddington thank you for what you did for me and what you do for other service members I will never forget it.” (US Air Force E-4).
“I have had the pleasure of working with Alexandra for the past year; she has done a remarkable job. Her expertise in military law is immediately evident, and her professionalism is second to none. But beyond that, Alexandra is a very warm and friendly person, making her a joy to work with. When I was facing allegations of abusive sexual contact in my final stretch of service in the military, Alexandra was able to reduce the charges to a simple Letter of Reprimand. She wisely counseled me not to submit a statement or rebuttal to the reprimand, as it would likely be used against me later. Alexandra then helped me avoid an administrative separation and retire with an Honorable Discharge, leaving my record as clean as possible. Throughout the process, she kept my best interest at the forefront while also considering my financial situation. In my experience with military lawyers, Alexandra is the one I would most highly recommend. I spoke to several lawyers before deciding on Alexandra and I am certain that it was the best decision I could have made.”(US Air Force O-5).
“I retained the services of Alexandra Waddington as my defense attorney in July 2022 and couldn’t be happier with her representation in my false sexual assault case. Alexandra’s knowledge of military law was impressive and she effectively communicated the details of my case to me. She provided reliable legal advice and was always accessible for any questions. Through her hard work and expertise, Alexandra secured my freedom and future. I highly recommend her as a top-notch criminal defense lawyer, with unparalleled dedication to her clients. Ultimately, she succeeded in getting my charges dismissed before trial, allowing me to continue with my Coast Guard career.” (US Coast Guard E-6).
Civilian military defense lawyers play a crucial role in safeguarding the rights of US Navy personnel facing legal trouble. These attorneys specialize in military law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), possessing the knowledge and experience to navigate the intricacies of the military justice system.
They can handle a wide range of cases, including:
Regardless of the nature of the case, civilian military defense lawyers are committed to upholding the rights of Navy service members and ensuring they receive fair and just treatment within the military justice system.