JAPAN COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, or administrative separation board in Japan, you need an aggressive civilian defense lawyer on your side immediately. As a Japan court-martial defense lawyer, David S. Hendrickson has spent years trying and winning courts-martial across Japan — at Yokosuka Naval Base, Camp Zama, Yokota Air Base, and installations throughout the country — fighting to protect your rank, pay, retirement, and freedom.
Japan 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 in Japan. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense Lawyer in Japan: What You Need to Know
What’s at stake in a court-martial in Japan?
A court-martial conviction can end your career and follow you for life. You face confinement, a punitive discharge (bad-conduct or dishonorable for enlisted; dismissal for officers), reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, sex-offender registration, and loss of retirement and veterans’ benefits — plus a federal conviction that follows you into civilian life and affects employment, housing, and your future. Overseas, the impact is magnified: confinement far from home, strain on your family, and immigration and SOFA-status consequences that can outlast the case itself.
How are courts-martial handled at Camp Zama, Yokosuka, and Yokota?
Courts-martial in Japan fall under your branch and command’s convening authority — Army cases generally through U.S. Army Japan at Camp Zama; Air Force cases through 5th Air Force at Yokota; Navy cases through Commander, Naval Forces Japan at Yokosuka; and Marine Corps cases under III Marine Expeditionary Force. The joint command, U.S. Forces Japan, oversees all of them. The convening authority decides whether to prefer charges, refer your case to court-martial, and approve any sentence. Having tried courts-martial across these commands for years, I understand 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. But military defenders in Korea are often carrying heavy caseloads, may have limited trial experience in complex or serious cases, and rotate out on short tours, which can disrupt continuity in a long case. A civilian defense lawyer gives you dedicated, experienced representation from start to finish — chosen by you, not assigned to you.
Japan Bases We Serve
Fleet Activities Yokosuka
Yokosuka is the U.S. Navy’s largest overseas installation and home to Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, making it a high-visibility command where allegations are taken seriously and cases often move quickly.
Yokota Air Base
As the headquarters for United States Forces Japan (USFJ), Yokota is a high-visibility installation with frequent coordination between command, law enforcement, and host-nation considerations. Even “routine” issues can escalate quickly.
Camp Zama
Camp Zama is home to U.S. Army Japan, I Corps (Forward), and multiple joint and tenant units. These cases often move quickly and carry consequences that extend far beyond Japan.
MCAS Iwakuni
Grafenwoehr is one of the U.S. Army’s most active overseas training and operational hubs. With constant rotations, multinational exercises, and visiting units from across Europe and the United States, allegations often arise in complex environments involving:
Fleet Activities Sasebo
Because Sasebo is a forward-deployed location without its own courthouse, Courts-Martial often must be referred to Yokosuka or require judges and defense teams to fly in from across the Pacific. Therefore, military justice in Sasebo heavily emphasizes swift NJP to maintain local community relations
Misawa Air Base
Misawa Air Base in northern Japan is a joint-service installation hosting the 35th Fighter Wing. Because personnel are guests in Japan, strict community standards—like Weasel NOTAMs governing off-base conduct and driving—are heavily enforced under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a civilian military defense lawyer represent me in Japan?
Yes. A civilian military defense lawyer can represent service members in mainland Japan in court-martial, NJP, administrative, and investigative matters, subject to the applicable service rules and procedures.
Do you handle cases at Yokota, Yokosuka, and Iwakuni?
Yes. We represent service members across mainland Japan, including cases arising from Yokota Air Base, Naval Base Yokosuka, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Camp Zama, Naval Base Sasebo, and Misawa Air Base.
What kinds of military cases do you handle in Japan?
We handle courts-martial, Article 15/NJP matters, administrative separation boards, officer adverse actions, command investigations, and serious UCMJ allegations.
Should I talk to investigators or command before speaking with a lawyer?
No. If you are suspected of misconduct or under investigation, invoke your right to silence, request a lawyer, and contact us immediately.
Talk to a Japan Military Defense Lawyer
If you are in Japan 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.