Michigan Military Defense Lawyers – UCMJ Attorneys
Legal Guide Overview
Michigan Military Defense Lawyers – UCMJ Attorneys
Gonzalez & Waddington are civilian military defense lawyers providing representation to service members stationed in Michigan in UCMJ investigations, court-martial cases, and administrative actions. Their practice is exclusively focused on military justice, supported by worldwide defense experience and involvement in investigations conducted by CID, NCIS, and OSI.
Watch the military defense lawyers at Gonzalez & Waddington break down how they defend service members worldwide against UCMJ allegations, CID/NCIS/OSI investigations, court-martials, Article 120 cases, administrative separations, and GOMORs. If you’re under investigation or facing charges, this video explains what your rights are and how experienced civilian military counsel can make the difference.
The operational environment, command culture, and tempo at Michigan create a military justice climate where UCMJ investigations and serious charges can escalate quickly, sometimes before facts are fully developed or tested. Units operating or training in the region often respond rapidly to allegations, increasing the likelihood of early investigative actions.
Installations operating in Michigan generally balance training requirements, readiness expectations, and interagency cooperation with local civilian authorities, producing a climate of heightened scrutiny. Even routine misconduct complaints can rapidly move into formal investigative channels because commanders are expected to maintain strict accountability in dispersed training and operational environments.
Allegations alone frequently initiate command-directed inquiries, safety reviews, or administrative assessments. The combination of reporting obligations and leadership emphasis on maintaining good order and discipline means that service members may face immediate career and duty impacts before an allegation is fully examined.
Article 120 UCMJ sexual assault allegations often arise in settings involving alcohol use, off-post social activities, or rapidly developing interpersonal conflicts. In Michigan, the mix of civilian nightlife, seasonal social events, and varying levels of liberty control can contribute to situations where credibility disputes and peer reporting trigger immediate investigative attention.
Commands treat Article 120 allegations as felony-level matters with rigorous investigative posture and significant potential consequences for all involved. These cases frequently involve detailed assessments of consent, digital evidence, and witness accounts, and service members can face extensive liberty and career exposure once an allegation is made.
Investigations in Michigan are typically handled by military investigators such as CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS (depending on branch). These agencies generally move quickly once an allegation is received, conducting interviews, collecting statements, and reviewing digital evidence to establish a timeline of events.
Commands often escalate matters rapidly by imposing interim measures such as no-contact orders or duty restrictions while the inquiry proceeds. Investigators may use controlled communications, coordinate with local law enforcement, and conduct multiple witness rounds to reconcile conflicting accounts.
At Michigan, investigations often progress more quickly than service members anticipate, and early decisions can create lasting legal and professional consequences including criminal charges or administrative action.
Gonzalez & Waddington routinely defend service members whose cases originate in Michigan, an area that generates a steady flow of high-stakes UCMJ matters across multiple service branches. Their work includes representing clients connected to Michigan while coordinating defense efforts locally and worldwide. The firm’s practice structure allows them to handle cases that begin in Michigan but proceed in other jurisdictions, including overseas tribunals when required.
The firm regularly defends clients facing severe allegations, including Article 120 sexual assault cases that trigger intensive investigations and aggressive prosecutorial postures. Their attorneys have extensive experience navigating court-martial litigation, Article 32 preliminary hearings, and complex investigative processes. They frequently engage with military investigative agencies such as CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS, reflecting the joint-service operational environment associated with Michigan-based cases.
Gonzalez & Waddington emphasize early involvement to help service members avoid missteps during interviews, command inquiries, or pre-charge interactions. Their approach includes maintaining trial readiness and developing strategies suited for command-driven military justice systems. They also manage both administrative and criminal proceedings tied to Michigan matters, ensuring continuity of defense as cases evolve across different stages of the military justice process.
The United States maintains a military presence in Michigan to support regional readiness, safeguard critical transportation corridors, and enable rapid response across the Upper Midwest. Forces positioned in the state contribute to national defense objectives by ensuring continuity of operations in key air and maritime approaches. This presence also supports training pipelines and logistics networks that sustain broader force posture across the region. The overall approach is designed to promote stability and ensure forces can mobilize efficiently when required.
Michigan’s position along the Great Lakes and near an international border shapes the operational environment for military units stationed there. The combination of extensive waterways, major transportation hubs, and variable weather conditions requires flexible planning and adaptive readiness cycles. Harsh winters and large distances between population centers influence how personnel move, train, and conduct routine missions. These geographic factors play a significant role in determining operational tempo and resource allocation.
Military activities in Michigan often involve joint-service aviation operations, maritime support, ground maneuver training, and logistics functions that sustain forces across the region. Installations in the state typically host units that coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies to maintain readiness. The integration of military personnel with surrounding civilian communities influences daily operations, workforce support, and regional mission planning. This blend of missions creates a diverse and dynamic military footprint.
The operational demands in Michigan create conditions where military justice matters can arise rapidly due to the need for disciplined decision-making and consistent command oversight. High-tempo activities, interagency coordination, and frequent evaluations make accountability an ongoing priority for commanders. Investigations may begin quickly when incidents occur, and administrative measures can proceed alongside or ahead of formal judicial processes. These dynamics underscore the importance of maintaining readiness in both operational and legal contexts.
Michigan hosts several key National Guard, Reserve, and Coast Guard installations whose missions, tempo, and local environments shape recurring military justice risk patterns for service members stationed there.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base – U.S. Air Force (Air National Guard). This installation supports Air National Guard aviation, including air refueling, airlift, and various tenant units conducting flight operations and technical support. The tempo varies with training cycles, aircraft maintenance demands, and joint exercises that bring in rotating personnel. Its mission profile centers on aviation readiness, specialized technical work, and interagency coordination across multiple tenant organizations.
Because the base sits near the Detroit metropolitan area, service members regularly interact with dense civilian nightlife districts, high‑traffic commuter routes, and diverse off‑duty environments where allegations of misconduct, alcohol‑related incidents, or relationship-driven disputes can arise. Long flight-line hours and shift work may contribute to stress that leads to UCMJ investigations or administrative action. Commanders respond quickly due to the mixed‑unit footprint and the presence of military investigators such as CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS, depending on branch.
Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center – Michigan Army National Guard. Camp Grayling is a large training site supporting ground forces during field exercises, weapons qualifications, maneuver training, and joint events. Activity surges during major training rotations involving Guard, Reserve, and occasional active‑duty units. The environment features extended field time, austere conditions, and high‑intensity training cycles.
Rural isolation, long duty hours, and field conditions can give rise to allegations of misconduct tied to stress, interpersonal friction, or violations of training-related orders. Off-duty activity in nearby small towns may lead to UCMJ investigations when alcohol or relationship conflicts intersect with local law enforcement involvement. Command-directed inquiries are common when safety-related incidents occur during high-tempo training events.
Fort Custer Training Center – Michigan Army National Guard. This installation supports Army National Guard mobilization preparation, range operations, and unit-level training events. Units frequently rotate in for short, intense training periods emphasizing readiness tasks, convoy operations, and classroom-to-field transitions. The tempo fluctuates, but compressed drill periods often create demanding schedules.
Military justice issues often stem from the combination of short-duration, high-pressure training and interaction with surrounding civilian communities in the Kalamazoo–Battle Creek region. Allegations of misconduct may arise when fatigue or rapid operational pacing leads to orders violations or interpersonal conflicts. Alcohol-related incidents and local police contact occasionally trigger UCMJ investigations or administrative action.
Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City – U.S. Coast Guard. This air station conducts search and rescue, maritime patrol, and seasonal Great Lakes response missions. Operational tempo can spike during heavy boating seasons and severe weather periods requiring rapid aviation deployment. Crews handle demanding flight schedules, maintenance cycles, and coordination with federal and state partners.
Because the installation is located in a major tourist region, off-duty liberty occurs around busy resort areas where alcohol availability and crowded seasonal environments can contribute to allegations of misconduct or command-directed inquiries. Operational stress associated with emergency-response aviation may further elevate risk for administrative action tied to fatigue, interpersonal issues, or workplace friction. Interaction with local authorities is common due to the station’s coastal mission and public-safety role.
Question: Does the UCMJ apply to service members while stationed in Michigan?
Answer: The UCMJ applies to service members regardless of location, including while stationed in Michigan. Its authority extends to periods on duty, on orders, and during official assignments whether stateside or abroad.
Question: Who decides where a military justice case is handled for service members in Michigan?
Answer: Commanders make decisions that guide the handling of many military justice matters. The venue and processing of a case can depend on the service member’s assignment, the command structure, and the facts involved.
Question: Can an incident in Michigan fall under both civilian and military jurisdiction?
Answer: Some incidents may involve both civilian law enforcement and the military justice system. Whether both systems act can depend on the nature of the conduct and the interests of each jurisdiction.
Question: How are military investigations conducted for service members stationed in Michigan?
Answer: Investigations may be carried out by CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS, depending on the service branch. These inquiries often review statements, digital evidence, and witness information to compile a factual record.
Question: What role can a civilian military defense lawyer play for a service member in Michigan?
Answer: Civilian military defense counsel can represent service members in court-martial and administrative matters. They may work alongside military defense counsel to address procedures and requirements within the military justice system.
Gonzalez & Waddington are civilian military defense lawyers who represent service members stationed in Michigan facing UCMJ investigations, court-martial charges, Article 15 nonjudicial punishment, administrative separation, and Boards of Inquiry. The firm’s practice is exclusively focused on military justice, providing representation grounded in a deep understanding of the unique demands placed on service members across all branches. Their experience includes navigating investigative actions conducted by CID, NCIS, and OSI, ensuring that clients receive informed guidance from the earliest stages of scrutiny through the most complex litigation.
Michigan’s military presence, supported by training sites, reserve components, and active-duty personnel operating across varied missions, creates an environment where service members must balance operational requirements with strict standards of discipline. Allegations involving Article 120 sexual assault, domestic violence, fraternization, drug offenses, and other forms of misconduct regularly arise in this setting, often with significant repercussions. Because military justice is command-controlled and can move quickly once concerns are raised, the consequences may affect rank, pay, clearance eligibility, benefits, and long-term career trajectory, regardless of a service member’s years of commitment or performance record.
Effective defense in this environment requires early legal intervention before statements are made or charging decisions are finalized, particularly when the initial stages of an investigation may shape the rest of the case. A focused approach includes challenging unlawful, incomplete, or rushed investigations while preparing a trial-ready defense for court-martial proceedings and providing steady representation in administrative forums worldwide. These considerations reflect the informational needs of individuals seeking clarity through searches for “Michigan military defense lawyer” and “UCMJ attorney,” emphasizing understanding rather than solicitation.
