South Carolina Military Defense Lawyers
Robust Defense for Military Servicemembers in SC
As former military officers, our South Carolina attorneys understand the immense sacrifice that active-duty military servicemembers and veterans make to protect our country. At Military Justice Attorneys, we’re committed to defending the rights of those who fought to defend us. If you’re facing a pending court-martial, investigation, or other military proceeding, turn to a military law firm with over 40 years of experience to safeguard your rights and hard-earned reputation. Our military defense lawyers can deliver the robust defense you deserve to take back your life and preserve your honor.
From court-martial appeals to SCRA violations, our military defense attorneys can defend your rights. Contact us online to discuss your case.
Aggressive Representation for Military Law Cases
Our tenacious advocates are familiar with the hardships of facing allegations as a military servicemember. Because we have real experience in the armed forces, our team understands that serving your country comes with a high price, often leading to unjust circumstances beyond your control.
Whether you made an honest mistake or simply weren't thinking as the result of fatigue or hypervigilance you were trained to have as a military servicemember, Military Justice Attorneys can fight tirelessly to protect your rights. From drug offenses to dishonorable discharge, our attorneys have a proven track record of results in various military proceedings. Common cases we handle include:
Court-Martial Defense
To prepare for a court-martial, you need high-quality representation from an attorney with a deep understanding of military law. Our firm has decades of experience vigorously defending the rights of military personnel facing criminal allegations. We offer effective court-martial defenseto protect your rights against various charges, such as:
- AWOL & Desertion
- Officer Misconduct
- Assault & Battery
- Adultery
- Domestic Violence
- Drill Sergeant/Instructor Misconduct
- Recruiter Misconduct
- Sexual Assault
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Larceny
- Internet Sex Crimes
- Drug Offenses
Court-Marital Appeals
While the legal framework of military law is designed to deliver justice, this isn’t always the case. Receiving an unjust outcome in a court-martial can be frightening and frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to repeal these verdicts. Our fierce lawyers have extensive experience helping clients navigate the legal complexities of various court-martial appeals, including requests for clemency and special clemency/parole boards.
Administrative Appeals
Our lawyers understand the severe damage that adverse administrative actions can inflict on the reputations of military servicemen and women. Such actions can jeopardize your potential for reenlistment, promotion, and overall career advancement.
From 6105 entries to Letters of Reprimand/Counseling to General Officer Memorandums of Reprimand, it’s crucial to seek counsel from a knowledgeable military defense attorney to protect your rights. Our firm is experienced in various types of administrative appeals, including:
- Titling Actions
- GOMOR Rebuttals
- DNA Expungement
- Demotion Appeals
- Adverse Counseling
- Article 138 Complaints
- Article 15 & Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP)
- Adverse Fitness Report/Referred Evaluations
Administrative Separation
Military separation boards oversee various administrative proceedings, from discharges from service to grade and career determinations. Regardless of which board is involved, our firm is well-equipped to provide reliable administrative separation defense to military servicemembers preparing to undergo a review or appeal to a military board. Our team frequently handles cases involving officer separations, enlisted separations/chapter boards, and notification procedures.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
If you suffered adverse health effects due to Camp Lejeune water contamination, you may be eligible to recover damages. Our lawyers are well-versed in these claims, empowering us to pursue maximum compensation and justice for our clients. Eligible claimants must meet the following criteria:
- The claimant served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River.
- The claimant served for a minimum of 30 days.
- The claimant served between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
Additionally, the servicemember must have developed one or more of these conditions: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia or other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or Parkinson's disease. Our firm can help you file your claim by guiding your steps wisely and fortifying your case with relevant evidence while ensuring compliance with all legal processes and procedures.
Correction of Military Records
No matter how innocent, errors and inaccuracies in official military records can significantly harm your reputation and future opportunities as a military servicemember. If you suspect an error, our military defense attorneys assist clients with pursuing corrections of military records to defend their honor and selfless service.
Discharge Upgrade
If you received an other-than-honorable (OTH) discharge for unlawful reasons, our lawyers can help you pursue justice. It’s crucial to seek sound counsel as soon as possible to seek a discharge upgrade, as your attorney can assist you with gathering relevant evidence and presenting a compelling argument.
While the military provides various avenues for officers and veterans to apply for discharge upgrades, the legal complexities of such cases can be challenging to navigate without a comprehensive understanding of military law. Our firm can ensure you fully understand your options to choose an appropriate legal recourse.
Some common routes to upgrade less than honorable discharges include:
- “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy: Although this federal act was repealed in 2011, it resulted in the discriminatory discharge of thousands of non-heterosexual military servicemembers. If you were dishonorably discharged under the DADT policy, our firm can help you exercise your rights by pursuing a discharge upgrade.
- PTSD/TBI: If you were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or have another qualifying mental health condition, you may be eligible to request a discharge upgrade.
- Sexual assault or harassment: If you are a survivor of military sexual assault or harassment that contributed to an other-than-honorable discharge, our attorneys can guide your legal steps wisely to upgrade your discharge status.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) took effect in December 2003 to provide active-duty military personnel with relief from civil proceedings that may affect their rights during their service. Under this federal law, service members can request a delay or suspension of certain judicial and administrative proceedings if they can prove such actions interfere with their duties.
Our lawyers know your rights under the SCRA and other federal laws, including the period before deployment to the delays for servicemembers stationed overseas. If you suspect your rights were violated under the SCRA, we can collaborate closely with you to review your legal options and pursue a favorable outcome. Our lawyers can help you navigate various issues related to SCRA, such as interest rate caps, lease terminations, mortgage foreclosures, and vehicle repossessions.
Why Choose Military Justice Attorneys?
Our aggressive military defense attorneys have a proven reputation for delivering highly skilled reputation to our fellow U.S. servicemen and women. Whether you’re an active-duty military officer or a proud veteran, turn to a military law firm with former military experience. Some reasons to partner with us include:
- Our military background: No one understands life in armed services better than those who have lived it. Our lawyers are former military officers who can truly understand and sympathize with your situation, empowering us to effectively represent clients from any branch and rank of the U.S. military.
- Global experience: Our firm is qualified to represent military personnel at home and abroad, including prominent U.S. military bases across the country.
- Comprehensive legal knowledge: Military law entails various complications and intricacies that take extensive time to truly learn. Fortunately, our team has over four decades of experience and an in-depth understanding of military and criminal law, empowering us to deliver a robust and comprehensive defense.
Military Areas We Serve in South Carolina
As a worldwide military defense firm, Military Justice Attorneys has a wealth of knowledge and experience to defend military personnel from any branch of the military, from any rank, at any military base or installation at home or abroad. Regardless of your situation, our determined attorneys are here to zealously protect your rights. Areas we serve in South Carolina include:
- Fort Jackson (Columbia)
- Joint Base Charleston
- Charleston Air Force Base
- Naval Support Activity Charleston
- Marine Corps Recruiting Depot (MCRD) Parris Island
- Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (Merritt Field)
- Shaw Air Force Base (Sumter)
What Our Clients Say
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"He is an articulate pitbull in the courtroom."
My career, my life, my future was completely in his hands and he took it as seriously as I did. He is an articulate pitbull in the courtroom. I highly recommend his services if you expect to have any chance of seeing the justice you truly deserve.
- Corporal, USMC -
"It Was Like a Scene From a Movie"
The results I received from the board was the best possible outcome in my favor and saved my career and my family’s future.
- Master Sergeant, USAF -
"I trusted him with my career on the line, and he was outstanding."
Mr. Hill tore apart the government's theory piece by piece . . . I trusted him with my career on the line, and he was outstanding.
- Petty Officer Third Class, USN -
"I would not want my fate in anyone else’s hands."
Gerry Healy is an outstanding attorney. In the courtroom he is confident, knowledgeable, and aggressive. I would not want my fate in anyone else’s hands.
- Airman First Class, USAF -
"Mr. Hodge was relentless in his defense of me"
Mr. Hodge was relentless in his defense. . . and absolved me of any wrongdoing under the UCMJ.
- Corporal, USMC
Our Battles Won
Results Matter. When your career, reputation, and freedom are on the line, you need an experienced law firm in your corner. With more than 75 years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at MJA know how to fight and win. Our results speak for themselves.
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"NOT GUILTY" "NOT GUILTY"
Quantico, Virginia. Marine Corporal (E-4) Acquitted at Court-Martial of Wrongful Drug Use After Positive Urinalysis.
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"NO BASIS"
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, Hawaii. Administrative Discharge Board Finds “No Basis” for Alleged Senior Leader Misconduct.
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"NOT GUILTY" Fort Cavazos, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas. Army Private Second Class (E-2) Acquitted of Rape and Sexual Assault Charges After Week-Long Trial.
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"NOT GUILTY" Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island, South Carolina. Marine Staff Sergeant (E-6) Acquitted at Court-Martial of Hazing, Blood Striping, and Pinning.
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"NOT GUILTY" "NOT GUILTY"
Kings Bay, Georgia. Navy Master-at-Arms Found Not Guilty of Unholstering Firearm and Pointing it at Another Sailor.
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"NOT GUILTY" "NOT GUILTY"
Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Senior Airman (E-4) Accused of Rape and Abusive Sexual Contact Acquitted by Military Judge.