FORT BLISS COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Fort Bliss Court-Martial and UCMJ Defense
From courts-martial and Boards of Inquiry to other UCMJ defense and administrative actions, these are the cases I handle for service members at Fort Bliss. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Fort Bliss: What You Need to Know
Understanding how the military justice system works at Fort Bliss is the first step in protecting yourself. Knowing why a seasoned civilian defense lawyer matters is the second. This section covers both.
Courts-Martial at Fort Bliss
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Fort Bliss. A summary court-martial handles minor offenses and can impose limited punishments, including confinement and reduction in rank. A special court-martial handles mid-level offenses and can result in confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a bad-conduct discharge. A general court-martial handles the most serious offenses. It can impose lengthy confinement, a dishonorable discharge, and other severe penalties.
If you are facing a court-martial at Fort Bliss, the prosecution has likely been building its case before you were ever charged. You need a defense lawyer who can match that preparation. You need someone with the trial experience to fight in the courtroom — not just negotiate behind closed doors.
Convening Authorities at Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a U.S. Army installation under U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). The 1st Armored Division commander, a two-star general, serves as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority for division personnel. Subordinate brigade commanders serve as Special Court-Martial Convening Authorities for their respective units. For personnel assigned to the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the convening authority falls within the FORSCOM chain. Joint Task Force North, a joint service command headquartered at Fort Bliss, operates under U.S. Northern Command for its federal law enforcement support mission.
Cases originating at Fort Bliss are typically handled on-base. Even when proceedings are delayed, statements, evidence, and decisions made at Fort Bliss often shape the entire case. The Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) advises the General Court-Martial Convening Authority on every case and drives all legal actions for the General’s signature. In cases where a convening authority makes the ultimate decision, such as a GOMOR or administrative separation without a board, persuading the SJA of your innocence may be more important than persuading the General. A strong legal defense and argument is necessary.
The Office of Special Trial Counsel
Under recent military justice reforms, certain cases are now handled by the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). These include sexual assault offenses, domestic violence, and related crimes. The OSTC operates independently from the chain of command. An independent special trial counsel decides whether to refer these cases to court-martial — not your commanding officer.
This means that for certain offenses, the convening authority no longer controls whether your case goes to court-martial. Having a civilian defense lawyer who understands how the OSTC process works is critical if you are facing these types of charges at Fort Bliss.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Army can process you for administrative separation through a Board of Inquiry or an Administrative Separation Board. A Board of Inquiry is used for officers. An Administrative Separation Board is used for enlisted soldiers. These boards can end your military career. They can also determine your discharge characterization, which affects your veterans’ benefits and future employment.
You have the right to a lawyer at these proceedings. A civilian defense lawyer who understands the administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Fort Bliss
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Fort Bliss, your command can impose an Article 15 for minor offenses. If you accept an Article 15, you give up your right to a court-martial. In return, you limit the maximum punishment your command can impose.
You have the right to consult with a defense counsel before accepting an Article 15. You also have the right to demand a court-martial instead. A defense lawyer can help you weigh your options and can advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding.
Why You Need a Civilian Defense Lawyer
The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS). At Fort Bliss, TDS attorneys serve service members across the 1st Armored Division, the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and their tenant commands. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards at installations where armored divisions train for global deployment and air defense soldiers guard the sky — and I know that your defense deserves the same intensity those missions demand. I know how the military justice system works. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. When everything you have worked for is on the line, you need a lawyer who has the experience, independence, and fight to stand with you.
About Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army installation headquartered in El Paso, Texas, with training areas extending across the Texas border into Doña Ana and Otero counties in New Mexico. At approximately 1.12 million acres (1,700 square miles), it is the second-largest Army installation overall and the largest installation in U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). The installation is larger than the state of Rhode Island, with 90% of its training lands located in New Mexico. The cantonment area sits within the city limits of El Paso, placing it on the largest international border of any U.S. military installation. Approximately 90,000 soldiers and family members call Fort Bliss and El Paso home. The installation serves as a Strategic Deployment Platform, executing rapid and efficient unit deployment and redeployment operations.
Fort Bliss is one of the oldest Army posts in continuous existence, established in 1848 following the Mexican War to defend the new border and protect settlers from raids. It was officially named Fort Bliss on March 8, 1854, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Smith Bliss, who served as General Zachary Taylor’s chief of staff during the Mexican War. The post moved to its current location on La Noria Mesa in 1893. In the 1920s and 1930s, Fort Bliss became renowned as the Army’s premier horse cavalry post and the last base with a strategic cavalry mission. In 1942, the installation became the center of Anti-Aircraft Artillery training, and in 1957 it was designated the United States Army Air Defense Center. In 2011, the 1st Armored Division returned to Fort Bliss from Germany after 40 years overseas, transforming the installation into a major mounted maneuver training post and driving a $6 billion expansion.
Today, the 1st Armored Division serves as the host unit, with three armored brigade combat teams, a combat aviation brigade, division artillery, and a sustainment brigade. The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command provides integrated air and missile defense capability. The 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade trains and deploys air defense forces. Additional units include Joint Task Force North, which supports federal law enforcement counterdrug and counter transnational organized crime operations under U.S. Northern Command; the Joint Modernization Command; the 5th Armored Brigade; the 402nd Field Artillery Brigade; the 93rd Military Police Battalion; the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy; the William Beaumont Army Medical Center; the CONUS Replacement Center; and the German Air Force Air Defense Center, which trains German air defense forces at Fort Bliss under a long-standing partnership.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Fort Bliss fall under the 1st Armored Division chain of command, with the 1st Armored Division commander serving as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority and subordinate brigade commanders serving as Special Court-Martial Convening Authorities. The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command falls within the FORSCOM chain for its convening authority. The Army provides assigned defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service. Fort Bliss’s status as the largest installation in FORSCOM, its role as a Strategic Deployment Platform, its air defense mission, and its international border location make it one of the most strategically significant installations in the continental United States.
For defense at other installations in the CONUS area, see our CONUS Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Fort Bliss?
I handle courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separation boards, Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment proceedings, military investigations, and UCMJ defense for service members at Fort Bliss. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ. Cases originating at Fort Bliss may be handled on-base or deferred until transfer, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Fort Bliss?
Yes. Fort Bliss is a joint installation with Army, Air Force, and other service personnel assigned to the 1st Armored Division, the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Task Force North, and other tenant commands. I represent service members from every branch facing military discipline anywhere in the world.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the TDS?
The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS). At Fort Bliss, TDS attorneys serve service members across the 1st Armored Division, the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and their tenant commands. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
What is a Board of Inquiry?
A Board of Inquiry is an administrative proceeding used to separate officers from the Army. The board reviews allegations of misconduct or substandard performance. It can recommend separation with a specific discharge characterization. You have the right to a lawyer at a Board of Inquiry. A skilled civilian defense lawyer can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Can you help with Article 15 at Fort Bliss?
Yes. I can review the evidence against you, advise you whether to accept the Article 15 or demand a court-martial, and advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding. Article 15 punishments can include restriction, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and extra duties. Having a lawyer involved early can make a significant difference in the outcome.
I’m under investigation — what should I do?
Do not make any statements to investigators, your chain of command, or anyone else about the allegations without consulting a lawyer first. You have the right to remain silent under Article 31(b) of the UCMJ. Contact a defense lawyer immediately. The earlier I get involved, the more I can do to protect you. This includes conducting an independent investigation, engaging with the command before charges are referred, and building a defense strategy from day one.
Can you help with sexual assault allegations under the UCMJ?
Yes. Sexual assault allegations under Articles 120, 120b, and 120c of the UCMJ are among the most serious charges a service member can face. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy confinement and sex offender registration. Under recent reforms, the Office of Special Trial Counsel now handles these cases independently from the chain of command. I have experience defending sexual assault cases in the military. I understand the unique evidentiary and procedural issues these cases involve. If you are facing a sexual assault allegation at Fort Bliss, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Fort Bliss?
I travel to Texas for courts-martial and administrative boards. When you contact me, I will work with you to establish a timeline that meets your needs. I have spent years defending service members at courts-martial and administrative boards, and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to a Fort Bliss Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Fort Bliss, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.