How Gonzalez & Waddington’s Expertise Compares to Local Lawyers with Minimal Military Justice Experience
Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is a trial-focused military defense firm representing Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen worldwide in courts-martial, Article 32 hearings, administrative separation boards/BOIs, and NJP/Article 15. When rank, pay, retirement, and freedom are at stake, experience, speed, and forensic fluency matter more than proximity. This page explains how seasoned UCMJ counsel compares with local lawyers who have limited exposure to military justice.
Military Justice Is Its Own Battlefield
The UCMJ, Manual for Courts-Martial, and service-specific rules create a system with distinct procedures, burdens, timelines, and evidentiary pitfalls. Command influence, pretrial investigations, and administrative side-effects (GOMORs, flags, separations) interact with criminal exposure in ways unfamiliar to generalists. Trial lawyers who live in this world know how to shape outcomes early, challenge forensics, protect rights, and keep careers intact.
Where Veteran UCMJ Counsel Outperforms Minimal-Experience Local Counsel
- Strategy at the intake stage: Early case theory, evidence preservation, and witness protection vs. reactive, wait-and-see approaches.
- Article 32 & motions practice: Targeted impeachment, expert challenges, and surgical suppression vs. generic filings and missed deadlines.
- Forensics & expert work: DNA/SANE, digital artifacts, and chain-of-custody attacks vs. over-reliance on government conclusions.
- Command dynamics: Understanding the pressures on trial counsel and commanders vs. assuming civilian DA/SAO playbooks apply.
- Admin consequences: Coordinating NJP/BOI strategy with criminal defense vs. treating them as separate, siloed events.
- Global operations: Rapid deployment to OCONUS/CONUS bases vs. jurisdictional or logistical hesitation.
Why Choose Michael Waddington & Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington
- Decades of courtroom focus: Contested courts-martial, Article 32 hearings, and BOIs in felony-level cases across all branches.
- Published, proven educators: Authors and lecturers on cross-examination, impeachment, and military trial strategy used by practitioners.
- Forensic fluency: DNA/SANE, digital forensics, urinalysis science, and expert impeachment under real courtroom pressure.
- Global reach: Regular appearances at installations across the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Pacific.
- Results-driven practice: Tailored narratives, disciplined motions, and aggressive cross built to survive scrutiny.
- Full-spectrum defense: Criminal charges, administrative actions, and collateral career impacts planned together—start to finish.
Common Issues / Case Types We Handle
- Articles 120/120c (sexual offenses), 92 (orders violations), 93 (maltreatment), 107 (false statements), 112a (drugs), 128 (assault), 134 (general article).
- Article 32 investigations: witness strategy, discovery leverage, and motions setup.
- Administrative separation boards/BOIs: standards, burdens, rights, and record protection.
- NJP/Article 15 defense and appeals; mitigation to avoid collateral damage.
- Digital forensics, SANE/DNA, urinalysis, and chain-of-custody challenges.
- Appeals and post-trial remedies.
Pro Tips & Mistakes
- Do prioritize contested trial and BOI experience over convenience or proximity.
- Do ask any prospective lawyer for specific, recent examples of motions, cross-examinations, and outcomes.
- Do not give statements to investigators or discuss case facts with the chain without counsel.
- Do not assume that civilian criminal experience automatically translates to UCMJ success.
- Do preserve texts, device data, social media, and witness information immediately; keep a precise timeline.
FAQs
Isn’t a local lawyer “good enough” for a military case?
Not if they lack UCMJ trial depth. Military justice has unique procedures, timelines, and command dynamics that generalists often miss.
Why does forensic fluency matter so much?
DNA/SANE, digital artifacts, and urinalysis often drive charging decisions. Experienced counsel knows how to attack methodology, collection, and interpretation.
Will Gonzalez & Waddington travel to my base overseas?
Yes. The firm regularly defends service members worldwide and deploys quickly when timing is critical.
Can a less-experienced lawyer “learn on the fly”?
High-stakes cases are unforgiving. Missed motions, deadlines, or objections can permanently damage your position.
How early should I hire counsel?
Immediately. Early moves shape evidence, witnesses, and the government’s theory of the case.
Do they handle both criminal and administrative actions?
Yes—courts-martial, Article 32 hearings, NJP, and BOIs are coordinated to protect your career and your record.
Contact Gonzalez & Waddington
Facing a court-martial, Article 32 hearing, BOI/separation board, NJP, or fast-moving investigation? Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law defends officers and enlisted worldwide across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Call 1-800-921-8607 or visit ucmjdefense.com for a confidential consultation. We respond urgently and travel globally to protect your career and future.