Voice: Protecting Your Rights in the Military Justice System

Understanding How We Safeguard Your Voice Under the UCMJ

Your voice matters at every stage of a military investigation, administrative action, or court-martial. Knowing when to speak, what to say, and when to remain silent can influence outcomes in powerful ways. At UCMJ Military Defense Lawyers, we guide service members through decisions that protect statements, prevent misunderstandings, and preserve defenses. Whether you are contacted by CID, NCIS, OSI, or your command, you deserve clear advice rooted in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This page explains how your voice fits into interviews, written responses, boards, and trial, and how deliberate counsel can help you avoid unforced errors that the government may try to use against you.

Voice is not just about speaking; it is about being heard at the right time, in the right forum, with the right strategy. If investigators request an interview or your command schedules a rights-advised meeting, your choices carry consequences for evidence, credibility, and leverage. Our team helps you assert Article 31 rights, prepare measured statements when appropriate, and present persuasive advocacy at separation boards and courts-martial. We work with you to align every word, silence, and document with your long-term goals. When accusations threaten rank, liberty, or career, a disciplined communication plan can steady the course and keep your narrative strong and consistent.

Why Guarding Your Voice Delivers Real Advantages

A carefully managed voice can limit harmful admissions, reduce investigative exposure, and position you for favorable resolutions. Strategic silence after a rights advisement can prevent the government from building a case through your own words. When a statement is needed, we help craft messages that are accurate, concise, and anchored in admissible facts. In boards and courts, we help you articulate service, mitigation, and truth without opening unnecessary doors. These choices can strengthen plea negotiations, influence charging decisions, and shape findings and sentencing outcomes. The benefit is practical: fewer surprises, stronger defenses, and a coherent presentation that keeps control where it belongs, with you.

UCMJ Military Defense Lawyers: Seasoned Courtroom Advocacy

Led by Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, UCMJ Military Defense Lawyers brings decades of worldwide courtroom advocacy to service members facing investigations, boards, and courts-martial. Our team has tried complex cases across branches and jurisdictions, translating battlefield composure into steady guidance under pressure. We understand how investigators frame questions, how commands evaluate written responses, and how panels assess statements and silence. That perspective helps us protect your rights while advancing a strategy tailored to your facts, goals, and career. We coordinate with witnesses, families, and mitigation resources to ensure your voice is clear, credible, and consistent in every forum that matters.

Your Voice Under the UCMJ: A Practical Defense Guide

This guide explains how to manage your voice from the first contact with investigators through trial or administrative boards. You will learn when asserting Article 31 rights preserves defenses, how to decide if a written statement makes sense, and how to prepare an unsworn statement that supports sentencing goals. We outline the roles of CID, NCIS, and OSI, the difference between command meetings and interrogations, and how to avoid common traps. The focus is simple: align your communication with a defense plan that anticipates government tactics and advances your best possible outcome.

We also cover how to respond to GOMORs, rebut adverse paperwork, and prepare for administrative separation or show cause boards. When the government seeks your perspective, the timing, scope, and format of your response can help or harm your case. With planning, you can present service history, achievements, and mitigation without surrendering key defenses. Throughout, we emphasize documentation, consistency, and credibility. Your voice is more than a statement; it is a strategy supported by records, witnesses, and legal rights. The goal is to help you communicate with purpose, protect your future, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

What We Mean by Your Voice in Military Justice

Your voice is the sum of your statements, silence, documents, demeanor, and advocacy across the military justice process. It includes what you tell investigators, how you respond to command inquiries, and the narrative you present in court or at a board. It also includes your lawful decision to remain silent after an Article 31 warning. Using your voice well requires understanding when speaking helps, when it hurts, and how to ensure that any communication is precise and verified. The objective is to control risk, preserve defenses, and present your best story when it matters most.

Key Elements: Rights, Interviews, Statements, and Unsworn Advocacy

There are several recurring moments where your voice matters. First, a rights-advised interview by CID, NCIS, or OSI, where asserting silence may be the wisest choice. Second, command meetings or counseling sessions, which can create records that later appear in litigation. Third, written statements and rebuttals, where careful drafting avoids unintentional admissions. Fourth, an unsworn statement during sentencing, allowing you to address the panel directly. Each step has rules and consequences. We assess evidence, evaluate risks, and determine whether to speak, write, or hold silence, always aligning communication with the broader defense strategy and your long-term goals.

Key Terms That Shape Your Voice Under the UCMJ

Understanding common terminology will help you make clear decisions. Article 31(b) warnings trigger rights to remain silent and to consult counsel. Investigative agencies like CID, NCIS, and OSI collect statements and evidence. An invocation is your decision to assert rights and stop questioning. An unsworn statement, presented at sentencing, allows you to speak without cross-examination. Each term carries specific implications for timing, admissibility, and strategy. We help you weigh which tools serve your interests, and which choices might limit defenses or expand exposure, so your voice advances your case rather than undermining it.

Article 31(b) Warning

An Article 31(b) warning is the military advisement that you are suspected of an offense and have the right to remain silent and to consult with counsel. Once given, you control whether any questioning proceeds. Choosing to remain silent preserves defenses and prevents investigators from shaping your narrative. If you choose to speak, your words can be used by the government. Understanding this warning and acting deliberately in response is a foundation of sound defense strategy and protects your voice from becoming the government’s evidence.

Invocation of Rights

Invocation is the clear assertion of your rights to remain silent and to consult with counsel after a rights advisement. Once invoked, questioning must stop. Invocation is not an admission and cannot properly be used as proof of guilt. It is a disciplined decision to protect yourself from pressure, fatigue, or trick questions that can produce damaging statements. We help you invoke respectfully, document the invocation, and avoid reinitiation traps, ensuring that your voice remains under your control while we evaluate evidence and plan next steps.

CID, NCIS, and OSI

CID, NCIS, and OSI are military investigative agencies that gather evidence, conduct interviews, and coordinate with prosecutors. Their mission is not to clear you; it is to investigate. Agents are trained to elicit statements and may use tactics designed to build a case. Understanding their role helps you avoid casual conversation that becomes evidence. When agents call, we help you decide whether to speak, how to respectfully decline, or how to present a measured statement supported by documents. The goal is to protect your voice and prevent avoidable exposure.

Unsworn Statement

An unsworn statement is a presentation during sentencing where you address the military judge or members without cross-examination. It allows you to share service history, remorse where appropriate, and mitigation. Because it is unsworn, its content must be carefully crafted for credibility and impact. We help structure themes, select proof, and integrate letters and records to support your message. A thoughtful unsworn statement can humanize your case, highlight accomplishments, and support requests for leniency while avoiding statements that could undermine pending matters or collateral consequences.

Limited Guidance Versus Full-Scale Defense: Choosing the Right Fit

Some situations call for targeted advice, while others demand comprehensive representation from investigation through trial. Limited guidance focuses on immediate decisions, such as whether to speak with agents or submit a short rebuttal. Comprehensive defense includes evidence development, motion practice, witness preparation, and coordinated advocacy across multiple forums. The right approach depends on the allegations, your risk tolerance, and the stage of the case. We help you weigh cost, timing, and potential outcomes so your voice is protected without overcommitting or underpreparing for the challenges ahead.

When Focused Advice May Be Enough:

Rights Invocation and Interview Decline Strategy

If agents request a quick interview and you have not been charged, a limited engagement can provide immediate protection. We help you invoke rights, communicate respectfully with investigators, and avoid off-the-record talk that later appears in reports. You receive a clear plan for handling calls, texts, and command inquiries, along with guidance on preserving messages and documents. This focused approach can stabilize the situation, prevent damaging statements, and buy time for evidence review before making any broader decisions about written statements or more extensive representation.

Short-Form Rebuttals and Documented Responses

When facing a minor adverse action or a narrow allegation, a concise written rebuttal may be the right tool. We assist with drafting accurate, measured responses supported by records, awards, and timelines. The goal is to correct the record and reduce collateral consequences without unnecessarily expanding the scope of your statements. By limiting topics, referencing documents, and avoiding speculation, you can defend your position while preserving defenses should matters escalate. This measured approach often resolves issues efficiently and helps keep your voice consistent across future proceedings.

When You Need End-to-End Defense of Your Voice:

Contested Court-Martial or Serious Allegations

Serious allegations or a referred court-martial require a comprehensive plan that unifies your voice across interviews, motions, trial, and sentencing. We coordinate investigation, expert consultation where appropriate, witness work, and litigation strategy so that every statement supports the overall defense. We prepare you for testimony if needed, develop mitigation packages, and craft an unsworn statement that advances your goals. This approach ensures your narrative is consistent, evidence-based, and persuasive, reducing risks of contradictions or unexpected admissions that the government could exploit.

Collateral Risks and Multiple Forums

Cases often spill into multiple arenas, including administrative separation boards, security clearance reviews, and adverse paperwork. A comprehensive approach protects your voice across these forums, coordinating statements, documents, and witnesses to avoid inconsistencies. We map out timing, decide where silence helps, and craft tailored responses that meet each forum’s rules. By aligning messaging, you reduce collateral damage while strengthening the foundation for negotiations or trial. This unified plan helps you manage uncertainty, preserve career opportunities, and advance outcomes that reflect your service and the facts.

Benefits of a Unified Communication and Defense Strategy

A unified approach builds credibility by ensuring that statements, documents, and advocacy tell the same consistent story. It reduces the risk of contradictions, prevents accidental admissions, and helps the decision-maker focus on your strongest themes. Coordinating witness interviews, timelines, and records supports accuracy and guards against memory gaps. This approach also improves leverage in negotiations, as the government sees an organized defense that anticipates issues and offers verified proof. The result is strategic clarity, fewer surprises, and a presentation that keeps your goals front and center.

Comprehensive representation also streamlines decisions about when to speak, write, or remain silent. By evaluating evidence and likely government moves, we time communications to protect defenses and maximize impact. We help you present service history, mitigation, and achievements in ways that resonate with commanders, panels, and judges. When the time comes to address the court in an unsworn statement, your message is prepared, authentic, and supported. This coordination minimizes risk while enhancing the strength and clarity of your voice throughout the process.

Consistent Messaging That Builds Credibility

Consistency is persuasive. When your statements, documents, and witness accounts align, decision-makers notice. We develop timelines, verify details, and anchor your communications to reliable proof. This eliminates contradictions that can harm credibility and helps the government focus on reasonable doubt, mitigation, or alternative resolutions. A consistent message also improves negotiation leverage and supports motions practice at trial. It keeps your voice steady under pressure and ensures that every communication, whether brief or extensive, advances your defense instead of creating unnecessary risks.

Strategic Timing That Protects Defenses

Timing matters as much as content. Speaking too early can lock you into statements before evidence is known. Strategic timing allows us to evaluate discovery, identify weaknesses, and plan communications that support motions and trial themes. By choosing when to remain silent and when to speak, you preserve defenses and avoid unnecessary exposure. When the moment is right, we help you deliver concise, accurate statements supported by documents and witnesses, ensuring your voice carries maximum weight with minimal risk.

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Voice Protection Pro Tips for Service Members

Assert Rights Politely and Stop the Conversation

If agents call or show up, a calm, respectful assertion of your rights can prevent harmful statements and reduce pressure. You can say that you want to speak with counsel before any questioning and that you will not discuss facts without representation present. Do not fill silence with small talk or speculation. Avoid texting about the case, and preserve messages and call logs. This approach sets boundaries, protects defenses, and buys time to assess evidence before making any decision about interviews or written statements.

Choose Written Responses Carefully

Written statements feel efficient but can lock you into details before discovery is known. If a response is needed, keep it focused, accurate, and supported by documents. Avoid opinions and broad conclusions. We help decide whether a short memorandum, a detailed response, or silence best serves the strategy. When you do write, verify times, dates, and names, and avoid casual language. A measured written response can correct the record, protect credibility, and prevent unintentional admissions that the government might later use against you.

Prepare Your Unsworn Statement with Care

An unsworn statement is a chance to be heard without cross-examination, but preparation is key. We craft a message that is sincere, focused, and supported by records and letters. We decide whether to include attachments, whether to speak or submit in writing, and how to address service, hardship, or remorse when appropriate. The tone should be respectful and clear, avoiding unnecessary detail that could create confusion. A well-prepared unsworn statement can humanize your case and support reasonable requests at sentencing.

Reasons to Consider Voice-Focused Defense Representation

If investigators want to talk, your command seeks a statement, or you face potential charges, voice-focused defense can stabilize the situation. Early protection often prevents damaging admissions and anchors a strategy that carries through boards and trial. We help you evaluate risk, decide whether to speak, and align any response with admissible proof. This early guidance can shape charging decisions, influence case posture, and preserve options. It is about taking control of your narrative and avoiding missteps when pressure and uncertainty are highest.

You should also consider this service if you are preparing for an administrative separation board, responding to a GOMOR, or considering an unsworn statement. These moments directly affect your career, reputation, and future opportunities. With planning, you can present a compelling story supported by records and witnesses while avoiding inconsistent or unnecessary statements. Our approach helps ensure your voice remains consistent across forums, strengthening credibility and leverage. The result is a clearer path forward, fewer surprises, and a defense aligned with your goals and values.

Common Situations Where Your Voice Needs Protection

Service members often call us after a surprise visit from agents, a sudden command meeting, or a request for a written statement. Others need help when facing a GOMOR, a no-contact order, or notice of a separation board. Some are preparing for a contested court-martial and want coordinated messaging from investigation through trial and sentencing. In each scenario, timing and content matter. We help you decide whether to speak, how to respond, and how to present a consistent, credible narrative that protects your future.

Investigator Interview Requests

When CID, NCIS, or OSI requests an interview, your response can shape the case. We help you assert rights, avoid casual conversation, and decide whether any statement is strategically helpful. If a statement is planned, we prepare with timelines, documents, and clear topics to prevent drift. If silence serves you better, we communicate that respectfully and document it. The goal is to control risk and prevent your words from becoming the government’s strongest evidence against you later.

Command Meetings and Written Responses

Commands may seek statements during counseling, inquiries, or adverse actions. We help you determine whether to respond in writing, request time to consult, or decline to discuss facts. When a response is appropriate, we anchor it to verified records, avoid speculation, and maintain a respectful tone. We also consider how the response may be used in future proceedings. This measured approach helps correct the record while protecting defenses and ensuring your voice remains consistent and credible.

Administrative Boards and Court-Martial Sentencing

At separation boards and sentencing, your voice can influence outcomes significantly. We prepare you for testimony if needed and craft an unsworn statement that highlights service, achievements, and mitigation. We integrate letters, evaluations, and records to support your message. The focus is on clarity, sincerity, and alignment with the broader strategy. By planning content and delivery, you avoid overstatements or inconsistencies that could undermine credibility and instead present a compelling case for retention or leniency.

Meet Your Defense Team

Michael S. Waddington

Criminal Defense Lawyer

PARTNER

Michael Waddington is a best‐selling author and criminal defense attorney who represents military personnel in courts worldwide—both after charges are filed and during pre‐charge investigations—specializing in serious offenses such as war crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, and white‐collar cases. Drawing on his rigorous discipline from Brazilian Jiu‐Jitsu, he trains both civilian and military defense lawyers in advanced cross‐examination techniques, a skillset detailed in his three popular books on the subject. His expertise is regularly sought by major media outlets—ranging from CNN and 60 Minutes to the BBC and ABC’s “Nightline”—and he has even contributed to episodes of the Golden Globe–winning series “The Good Wife.” Michael instructs both civilian and military criminal defense attorneys on the art of effectively cross-examining and discrediting adversarial witnesses. Drawing from his three best-selling books on cross-examination and years of experience confronting numerous cunning and aggressive prosecution witnesses.

Alexandra González-Waddington

Criminal Defense Lawyer

PARTNER

Alexandra González is a founding partner of González & Waddington Law Firm, practicing in Florida, Georgia, and military courts worldwide, where she has defended hundreds of clients charged with violent crimes, sexual assault, and white-collar offenses since 2003. She has led high-profile military sexual assault and war-crimes cases stemming from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and is regularly featured by major outlets such as 60 Minutes, ABC’s Nightline, Rolling Stone, the BBC, Fox News, and CNN. As one of the first Public Defenders for Georgia’s Augusta Judicial Circuit, she handled a broad spectrum of cases—including rape, larceny, violent crimes, and domestic violence—and she holds a J.D. from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where she completed the nationally ranked Integrated Trial Advocacy Program. A Georgia-registered mediator, she continues to shape the practice of military and civilian defense through her courtroom work and advocacy.

Battle-Tested Results

Recent Case Results

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Facebook Exposé Shuts Down Fake Rape Allegation in Japan

U.S. v. Marine E-6 – Iwakuni Air Base, Japan – Article 32 Hearings Allegations: Rape, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Adultery, Fraternization, Violation of an Order Max

Army Officer Beats Aggravated Assault & Conduct Unbecoming Charges

U.S. v. Army O-1 – Fort Bragg, NC / Tried at Fort McNair, Washington D.C. – General Court-Martial Allegations: Aggravated Assault with Means Likely to

Navy Sailor’s Sex Assault Case Tossed After UCI Bombshell

U.S. v. Navy E-6 – Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia – General Court-Martial Allegations: Article 120 Sexual Assault Max Punishment: 40+ years confinement, Dishonorable Discharge, Sex

Cleared of Rape Charges in Wild Multi-Victim Court-Martial Drama

U.S. v. Army E-6 – Fort Polk, LA – General Court-Martial Allegations: Article 120 Rape, Sexual Assault x4, Article 128 Assault, Total of 14 allegations

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U.S. v. Army E-6 – Fort Bragg, North Carolina – General Court-Martial Allegations: Article 120 Sexual Assault, Article 128 Assault Consummated by Battery, Conduct Unbecoming

Make a False Rape Allegation & Win Soldier of the Year

U.S. v. Army CW2 – Fort Gordon, GA

Allegations: RAPE, Fraternization, Adultery
Max Punishment: LIFE, Dismissal, Sex Offender Registration
Result: ALL CHARGES DISMISSED
Discharge: RETIRED WITH AN HONORABLE
Location/Branch/Rank: Fort Gordon – Augusta, GA/Army/CW2

Cheating Marine Officer Calls Rape

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Take Command of Your Defense

UCMJ Military Defense Lawyers stands with service members worldwide. If you have been contacted by investigators, asked for a statement, or notified of adverse action, call 800-921-8607. We will help you protect your voice, assess risks, and plan next steps that support your future. Whether you need focused guidance or comprehensive defense, our team works to steady the situation and align every communication with your goals. Reach out before you speak, and give yourself the advantage of a deliberate plan.

Why Service Members Choose UCMJ Military Defense Lawyers to Protect Their Voice

Our practice, led by Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, is built on courtroom advocacy, tactical preparation, and clear communication. We understand how investigators operate, how commands make decisions, and how panels evaluate statements and silence. That insight allows us to shape timing, content, and delivery so your voice remains protected and persuasive. We are responsive, candid, and focused on results that reflect your service and the facts. From first contact to final outcome, we stand with you.

Clients value our ability to coordinate across investigations, boards, and courts-martial, ensuring that every step advances a coherent defense. We prepare witnesses, verify records, and build mitigation that supports your narrative. We also communicate with clarity, giving you practical steps you can use immediately. This combination of planning and advocacy helps reduce surprises and strengthens your position when it matters most. With UCMJ Military Defense Lawyers, your voice is guided by a plan designed to protect your future.

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Check Out Our Newest Book

UCMJ Survival Guide

UCMJ Survival Guide: The Complete Military Justice Manual for Service Members & Families: Whether you’re facing an investigation, court-martial, Article 15 (NJP), or administrative separation, UCMJ Survival Guide is your essential resource for navigating the military justice system. Written by two of the most experienced and respected military defense lawyers in the field—Michael and Alexandra Waddington—this comprehensive guide delivers clear, actionable strategies to protect your career, reputation, and future. Michael and Alexandra are among the top military defense lawyers and recognized as some of the most experienced sexual assault defense attorneys in the country. They have successfully defended service members in high-profile Article 120 UCMJ sexual assault cases, complex court-martials, and administrative separation proceedings across all branches of the U.S. military.

UCMJ Criminal Defense Lawyers

Worldwide Military Defense Experience

Defending Service Members Across Every Theater and Installation

The González & Waddington Law Firm’s global reach sets them apart from regional military defense attorneys. With active cases spanning from Fort Bragg to forward operating bases in combat zones, from Norfolk Naval Station to remote Air Force installations, their practice truly encompasses the worldwide nature of modern military service.

Specialized Expertise in Serious Military Offenses

War Crimes, Sexual Assault, Violent Crimes, and White-Collar Defense

The most serious charges under the UCMJ require the most experienced defense attorneys. The González & Waddington Law Firm has built its reputation by successfully defending service members against the gravest allegations—cases where the stakes couldn’t be higher and the margin for error is virtually nonexistent.

Media and High-Profile Case Experience

Featured on CNN, 60 Minutes, BBC, and Major News Outlets

The legal expertise of Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington has garnered attention from the world’s most prestigious media outlets, a testament to their standing as leading authorities in military criminal defense. This media recognition reflects not only their legal acumen but also their ability to handle high-stakes cases under intense public scrutiny.

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