FORT CARSON COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Fort Carson 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 Carson. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Fort Carson: What You Need to Know
Courts-Martial at Fort Carson
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Fort Carson. 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 Carson, 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 Carson
Fort Carson is a U.S. Army installation under U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). The 4th Infantry 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. The 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Carson, operates under the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) chain of command for certain disciplinary matters. The 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade and other separate brigades fall under the FORSCOM chain of command.
Cases originating at Fort Carson are typically handled on-base. Even when proceedings are delayed, statements, evidence, and decisions made at Fort Carson 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 Carson.
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 Carson
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Fort Carson, 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 Carson, TDS attorneys serve service members across the 4th Infantry Division and its 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 mountain post soldiers and special forces have trained for every conflict since World War II — and I know that your defense requires the same resilience and fight those soldiers bring to every mission. 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 Carson
Fort Carson is a United States Army installation located directly south of Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Known as the Mountain Post, the installation spans approximately 137,000 acres and is home to more than 24,000 active-duty soldiers and approximately 30,000 family members. Fort Carson serves as a major power-projection platform, capable of rapidly deploying forces worldwide, and is widely regarded as one of the Army’s premier training installations, with access to the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, a 235,000-acre training area in southeastern Colorado. The installation’s elevation, terrain, and proximity to the Rocky Mountains provide unique high-altitude training opportunities that prepare soldiers for operations in mountainous and austere environments.
The installation was established on January 31, 1942, in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, when the city of Colorado Springs purchased land south of the city and donated it to the War Department. It was named Camp Carson in honor of Brigadier General Christopher “Kit” Carson, the legendary frontier scout and explorer who traversed much of the American West in the mid-1800s. Camp Carson was originally built to train infantry, artillery, and armored units for World War II. The installation was redesignated as a permanent Army post, Fort Carson, in 1954. The 4th Infantry Division arrived at Fort Carson in the 1970s, establishing the installation as a major mechanized and armored warfare training center. Over the following decades, Fort Carson deployed soldiers to every major conflict, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Fort Carson was not affected by the 2023 Department of Defense renaming initiative, as Kit Carson was a Union Army officer.
Today, the 4th Infantry Division serves as the host unit, with Stryker and armored brigade combat teams, a combat aviation brigade, division artillery, and a sustainment brigade. The 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is headquartered at Fort Carson and conducts special operations across the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. The 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade trains, advises, and assists partner nation security forces. Additional units include the 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), the 43rd Sustainment Brigade, the 10th Combat Support Hospital, Evans Army Community Hospital, the 4th Engineer Battalion, and the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, representing the Air Force presence at the installation.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Fort Carson fall under the 4th Infantry Division chain of command, with the 4th Infantry Division commander serving as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority and subordinate brigade commanders serving as Special Court-Martial Convening Authorities. The 10th Special Forces Group falls under the USASOC chain for certain disciplinary matters. The Army provides assigned defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service. Fort Carson’s status as the Mountain Post, its high-altitude training capabilities, its role as a major power-projection platform, and its more than eighty years of service to the nation 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 Carson?
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 Carson. 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 Carson 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 Carson?
Yes. Fort Carson is a joint installation with Army, Air Force, and other service personnel assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, the 10th Special Forces Group, the 71st Ordnance Group, and other tenant commands including the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron. 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 Carson, TDS attorneys serve service members across the 4th Infantry Division and its 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 Carson?
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 Carson, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Fort Carson?
I travel to Colorado 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 Carson Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Fort Carson, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.