Over at Global Military Justice Reform blog I posted about the NDAA 2016 and a “how are we doing” note. I begin with, In the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act 2016 (NDAA) the Congress made some significant changes to the UCMJ and the President’s follow-on Executive Order directed conforming changes and implementation regulations in the…
Continue reading ›Justin Oshana’s Sept. 1 Tuesday Opinion essay, “How Trump poisoned the prosecution of Bowe Bergdahl,” was exceptionally insightful, accurate and fair. I can attest to the accuracy of Mr. Oshana’s depiction of the complexity of the case. Whatever one’s opinion about the actions of Bowe Bergdahl on the battlefield, we should, as Mr. Oshana reminds…
Continue reading ›As a reminder, Prof. Cole brings us, Michael Murphy (University of Pennsylvania Law School) has posted The Search for Clarity in an Attorney’s Duty to Google on SSRN. Attorneys have a professional duty to investigate relevant facts about the matters on which they work. There is no specific rule or statute requiring that an attorney…
Continue reading ›The Coasties have changed links to places of interest. I believe these are the new places to visit. https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/legal/Court-of-Criminal-Appeals/ https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/legal/Military-Justice/Court-Dockets/ Good Order & Discipline Reports https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/legal/GOAD_report/ https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/legal/BCMR/ https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/Legal/organization/
Continue reading ›Applying this rationale, I believe, contrary to the view expressed by my brothers, that there is more than a possibility that appellant’s trial was adversely affected by unlawful command influence. My experience as an officer and lawyer in the Army is that, when a commander says he is angry about individuals giving favorable testimony on…
Continue reading ›Navy Times is now reporting that, “Arson is suspected as the cause of a July 12 fire that left extensive damage to the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard docked off San Diego, and a U.S. Navy sailor was being questioned as a potential suspect, a senior defense official said Wednesday.” Salem News has an article…
Continue reading ›On 27 August 2020, CAAF issued its opinion in United States v. Bergdahl. “Thus, simply stated, it was the totality of the circumstances surrounding Appellant’s misconduct rather than any outside influences that foreordained the Army’s handling and disposition of this case. Therefore, an objective, disinterested observer would not harbor any significant doubts about the ultimate…
Continue reading ›You seek out a witness for the defense and they tell you they have to check with leadership to see if that’s OK. This happens occasionally. Most of the time they come back and say they are good to go, or they are intransigent and you have to ask the TC to have a quiet…
Continue reading ›“I didn’t want to plead guilty.” Followed with “my lawyers forced me.” That’s a not infrequent complaint with appellant’s who plead guilty. “In another, the defendent objected to the Navy counsel’s advice to plead “guilty.” He stated that though he admitted guilt, “he could have beaten it with a good lawyer.” Chaplain Reports on Prisoner’s…
Continue reading ›Salem News has an article about “SEALs pulled from Iraq.” The article is a lengthy one. From the article here is why there is at least one pending (possible) appellate case. The Navy fired three SEAL leaders in the aftermath of the alleged rape on the Iraq air base and charged Special Warfare Operator First…
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