ft hood military criminal lawyers

The military has a large number of skilled lawyers in its JAG Corps, providing criminal defense representation for people charged with offenses under the Code of Military Justice. When you find yourself charged with an offense and facing a potential court martial, you’ll be assigned one of these lawyers. Some people choose to keep their appointed lawyer. Many others make the choice to retain a private military criminal lawyer to help them through the most difficult time in their life. Military criminal lawyers come in many forms, and for those people who choose to go with outside counsel, there are very good reasons underpinning their decisions. Why would one want to opt for private outside counsel? Here are just a few of the many reasons.

Two criminal defenders for the price of one

If you choose to pay for a private military criminal lawyer, you won’t just be getting the benefit of that lawyer’s experience. You’ll also get to keep the military lawyer appointed to your case by your branch. Having two lawyers on the case can help you with both investigation and trial prep. Many cases are won or lost at the investigation stage. Good lawyers put in the long, hard work to ensure they have every possible detail covered. This can be hard in complex cases, though. If you opt for a private military criminal lawyer, you’ll get the benefit of two people working to uncover the best possible defense in your case.

Building a rapport and a comfort level

Being comfortable with your attorney is one of the most important things if you’re going to make it through a court martial with your sanity intact. The court martial process can be long and trying. You’ll feel stressed, you’ll have questions and you may get frustrated at some points. While a lawyer’s primary job is to advocate on your behalf to the best of his or her ability, lawyers also help their clients handle the difficulty of the court martial process. Shouldn’t you be able to work with a lawyer who brings you comfort? When you choose your own outside counsel, you can make sure the comfort level is there. You can sit down with the lawyer to have a discussion, seeing whether you get along well with him. From there, you’ll benefit from an easier exchange of information, potentially allowing for better case preparation, too.

Specialized lawyers for specialized cases

Not every lawyer is great at trying every case. When you’re facing a court martial, you could stand accused of many different offenses. By choosing a private military criminal lawyer, you have the opportunity to choose a professional who matches up well with the type of charges you’re facing. Some lawyers are better at trying sexual offenses, while others are better with “conduct unbecoming” charges. When you just have a military-appointed attorney, you’re at the mercy of that selection process. Your lawyer may or may not have familiarity with the case he is trying. When you choose your own lawyer, it becomes easier to find an individual who has the experience you need for the specific type of charge you are facing.

Finding a lawyer working only for you

The best thing about hiring a private military criminal attorney is that he will have no allegiances to anyone other than you. It’s often the case that appointed counsel have responsibilities within the military. They have politics they must adhere to, even if they are supposed to be representing you above all else. When you hire a private outside lawyer, you can rest assured that they are just showing up on your behalf. There is no promotion decision pending or superior officer bearing down on them to pressure how they handle the case. Your lawyer will be wholly your advocate, which can help you get the outcome you deserve.

On top of all that, private military criminal lawyers have the ability to control their caseloads much easier. Appointed counsel are often overworked, having to take many cases according to their schedule and docket. A private lawyer can focus more attention on you and your case. This can allow for better prep and a potentially better outcome in your court martial proceeding.