Military Law Services

Special Court-Martial is convened by a Commanding Officer for more serious offenses. A servicemember who is charged at Special Court-Martial, which is federal court, faces a jurisdictional maximum punishment of up to twelve (12) months of confinement, forfeiture of 2/3 of pay and allowances for a period of up to twelve months, reduction to E-1, fines, other lawful punishment, and a Bad Conduct Discharge.

A servicemember who is charged a Special Court-Martial needs the assistance of an experienced military attorney. Get in touch now.

General Court-Martial is reserved for the most serious violations of the U.C.M.J. Prior to facing charges at a General Court-Martial servicemembers are afforded the opportunity to exploit the allegations at an Article 32, UCMJ, investigative hearing. It is crucial that if you are facing an Article 32, UCMJ, hearing that you seek the advice of an experienced counsel. If charges are referred to a General Court-Martial a servicemember faces severe punishments. The maximum punishment a service member faces at a GCM is the total years associated with the alleged charges that have been preferred against that service member. In addition to confinement, a servicemember at a General Court-Martial is also subject to forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to E-1, fines, other lawful punishment, and the possibility of a dishonorable discharge. Similar to Special Court-Martial a General Court-Martial is federal court and could result in a federal conviction and severe punishment.

If you are facing an Article 32, UCMJ, investigative hearing or a General Court-Martial contact us now.

Article 15, UCMJ, is also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, Captain’s Mast or Office Hours. If you are facing charges at an Article 15, hearing you have rights and should consult with an experienced military attorney prior to deciding if you want to “accept” adjudication at an Article 15 hearing.  

If you are facing allegations of misconduct at Article 15, contact us now.

If a servicemember has been provided notification of an involuntary separation hearing that servicemember could be separated from the service, lose their job, and may be separated with an “other than honorable characterization of service.” An “OTH” will impose a life-long stigma and expose the servicemember to the potential loss of many service related benefits.

If you are facing an involuntary separation, your career and benefits are at stake, contact our experienced military attorneys so we can assist you.

Commissioned Officers may face involuntary separation from the service at a Board of Inquiry, “BOI.” Similar to an involuntary administrative separation hearing for enlisted servicemembers, a commissioned officer faces the loss of his career, benefits, and livelihood at a BOI.

It is critical that an Officer facing a BOI consult with an experienced military attorney. Contact our law office today.

Due to today’s operational requirements many servicemembers have sacrificed their own personnel safety to accomplish the mission and, as a result of their sacrifice, sustained serious injuries. You have paid a heavy toll for defending our nation and you need someone who will fight for the benefits you may be entitled to.

If you are facing medical separation, medical retirement, or a performance evaluation review board, let us help by getting in touch today.

Servicemembers are permitted to submit post trial matters. If you feel that the result of your court-martial was unfair, unjust, or that your punishment was excessive you should consider seeking civilian counsel to assist with your with clemency request.

Contact the Law Office of Eric M. Kopka.

If your service record book contains adverse material such as a negative counseling, adverse fitness report, a non-judicial punishment, or summary court-martial that you believe was unjust or unfair you can file a petition to attempt to remove the  adverse material from your service record book. If you were involuntarily separated from the service with “bad paper” such as an other than honorable characterization of service you can attempt to upgrade your characterization of service. If you are considering requesting the removal of adverse material or attempting to upgrade your characterization of service, an experienced counsel can be vital to your success.

Contact the Law Office of Eric M. Kopka.