International Court Martial Lawyers

Raiser & Kenniff, P.C. is a premier military criminal defense law firm. Our team of lawyers has over 50 years of combined experience, handling all types of criminal defense cases, both military and civil. Our founding partners were both former JAG officers and former prosecutors in New York. Our attorneys have handled some of the toughest criminal defense cases in the U.S.

Our lawyers have experience handling tough cases that other military criminal defense law firms turn down. If you are accused of committing a crime, we encourage you to contact our law firm immediately. We are available 24/7 to help you with your case. Regardless of where you are, we can travel to you. Our attorneys have experience in most major courts.

Finding out that you’re facing a court martial can bring feelings of dread and worry. Understanding what to expect during the court martial process can help take some of the mystery out of the proceedings. Even if you’re facing a stressful court martial proceeding, there are things that you can do to fight back and present your side of the story.

What’s a General Court Martial?

A court martial is another name for a military court proceeding. There are a few different types of court martial proceedings. A general court martial is the most serious type. A summary court martial and special court martial are two other types of proceedings.

The proceedings begin when a commanding officer signs a convening order. Once they sign an order, you have a right to assistance from a lawyer. From there, your case proceeds to an arraignment, decisions on pretrial motions, and finally, to trial.

Military Crimes Are Serious Charges

A general court martial is a very serious matter. These proceedings are often reserved for some of the most serious offenses. A conviction often means a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge.

You may also face loss of pay. Officials may want to send you to jail or prison. For very serious offenses, lifetime incarceration, and even the death penalty, may be on the table.

Government Officials Must Prove Their Case Against You

Even though a court martial is a very serious matter, government officials still have to prove their case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. An experienced court martial attorney can help defend you against charges. There are many stages of the proceedings where your attorney can help you advance your interests.

Your attorney can help you determine if you can bring any pretrial motions to help your case. These motions might allow you to keep out damaging evidence. This can help the jury decide the case based on only the allegations against you, rather than on unrelated things that are designed to paint you in a bad light to the jury. Pretrial motions help the court focus the case on only the most relevant facts, so that the jury can make a fair decision based on the law.

At trial, your international court martial attorney can help you admit evidence that the jury needs to hear. They help you object to inadmissible evidence that the government tries to enter against you and help you tell your story to the jury, so they can look at the entire circumstances of the case from your point of view.

Trying Your Case

A panel of military officers receive an appointment to decide your guilt or innocence. This is similar to the jury system in civilian court. However, in civilian court, a decision to convict you has to be unanimous. In a military court, you can receive a guilty verdict even if only two-thirds of the jurors believe you’re guilty.

The trial proceeds a lot like a criminal case might proceed in a civilian court. Your attorney can help you cross-examine witnesses and call witnesses of your own. They can also make an opening statement and a closing statement on your behalf. Once both sides present their case, the jury deliberates.

If you’re convicted, you need to present evidence of why you believe a certain sentence is appropriate in your case. You may also decide to pursue an appeal. Your international court martial lawyers can help you weigh the pros and cons to make a decision.