HAWAII COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER

What’s at stake in a court-martial in Hawaii?

A court-martial conviction can end your military career and follow you for years. For example, a conviction can result in confinement, a punitive discharge, reduction in rank, and forfeiture of pay. For enlisted members, a punitive discharge means a bad-conduct or dishonorable discharge; for officers, it means a dismissal. It can also lead to sex-offender registration and the loss of retirement and veterans’ benefits. In addition, you face a federal conviction that can affect your civilian employment, housing, and future. Even though you are stationed stateside, the consequences are no less serious — a federal conviction and a punitive discharge can follow you long after you leave the service.

How are courts-martial handled at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Schofield Barracks?

Courts-martial in Hawaii fall under your branch and command’s convening authority. For Army cases, that is generally through U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter or the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks. For Air Force cases, it is Pacific Air Forces and the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. For Navy cases, it is Navy Region Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. For Marine Corps cases, it falls under Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The combatant command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Camp Smith, oversees them all. The convening authority decides whether to prefer charges, refer your case to court-martial, and approve any sentence. Based in Honolulu and having tried courts-martial across these commands for years, I know how they investigate, charge, and try cases — and how to mount an effective defense within that system.

When should I hire a defense lawyer?

As early as possible — ideally the moment you suspect you are under investigation by CID, NCIS, AFOSI, or your command. Some of the most important defense work happens before charges are ever preferred, while the command is still gathering information and deciding how far to take the case. Early representation can help you avoid statements and decisions that harden the case against you, and can sometimes resolve matters before they ever reach a court-martial.

Won’t the military assign me a lawyer for free?

Yes — the military will assign you defense counsel at no cost, and many are capable. However, appointed military defenders in Hawaii are often stretched across heavy caseloads, especially given the concentration of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine personnel on Oahu. They may also have limited trial experience in serious or complex cases. In addition, they rotate out on short tours, which can disrupt continuity in a case that takes months to resolve. By contrast, a civilian defense lawyer gives you dedicated, experienced representation from start to finish — chosen by you, not assigned to you.

Do I need a military defense lawyer if I am under investigation in Hawaii?

If you are under investigation in Hawaii, you should take the situation seriously right away. In many cases, the smartest move is to get legal advice before making statements, answering questions, or trying to explain your side informally.

Do you handle court-martial cases in Hawaii?

Yes. I represent service members in Hawaii facing court-martial and other serious UCMJ matters, including cases involving allegations that can affect liberty, rank, pay, career progression, and long-term military benefits.

Can you help if I am stationed at Schofield Barracks or Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam?

Yes. I handle military defense matters for service members stationed at Schofield Barracks, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and other commands across Hawaii who are facing investigations, court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation board, Article 15 / NJP, or other adverse action.

Why do service members in Hawaii hire civilian military defense counsel?

Service members in Hawaii hire us because they want the strongest defense they can get and independent counsel whose only job is to protect them. Many clients come to us specifically because of our reputation for high‑quality military defense and because they want focused representation from the very beginning of a case. They often seek help before answering questions, responding to adverse paperwork, speaking with investigators, or agreeing to command requests that could make their situation harder to fix later. That level of early, strategic guidance is not usually available through base legal. Others reach out after action has already been taken against them, once they become frustrated with the limitations of their appointed military counsel and want a defense team that can push back more aggressively on their behalf.

What kinds of Hawaii military cases do you handle?

I handle court-martial defense, Board of Inquiry defense, administrative separation board defense, military investigations, Article 15 / NJP defense, sexual assault allegations, domestic violence allegations, sexual harassment allegations, disobedience/disrespect allegations, and other serious UCMJ-related cases.

If you are in Hawaii and need a military defense lawyer, contact me for a confidential consultation. If you are being investigated, accused of a UCMJ offense, facing court-martial, or worried that command action is coming, now is the time to protect yourself.