Top Three Things to Do When Facing a Court-Martial
If you are facing a court-martial, make sure that you are prepared to defend yourself by thinking ahead and creating a plan. The court-martial process can be long and difficult. It is important that you do whatever you can to prepare your defense as early as possible in the process.
Educate Yourself
Learn everything you can about the court-martial process. Understanding what will happen next is the best way to deal with the pressure of facing a court-martial. Things will start to happen quickly once charges are preferred against you. It is vital to your defense that you are an active participant in the process. You do not want to sit back and simply trust that everything will work out for the best.
More information about the court-martial process:
Don’t Talk to Anyone
It is never a good idea to provide a statement to your command or CID. You may feel that you should provide a statement to clear your name, but resist that urge. You are always better off if you avoid speaking about the allegations against you. If you are asked questions by a military investigator, a member of your chain of command, or even a friend – you should politely tell them that you do now want to answer any questions about the allegations against you. If you speak to anyone, other that your defense attorney, the words that you say will likely be used against you.
More information about CID interviews and CID Tactics:
Choose Your Defense Attorney
You have a lot to lose if you are facing a court-martial. If convicted, you face jail time, loss of career, loss of income, loss of family, and loss of reputation. Your goal should be to resume you life with the least possible negative impact. The best way to achieve this goal is to select an attorney to represent you that you trust. You should treat your decision of who will defend you like you would with any other important decision – do your research and get the needed facts to make a wise decision.
More information about selecting the best defense attorney:
For help with your court-martial, contact the Law Office of David E. Coombs.