NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Naval Base San Diego 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 Naval Base San Diego. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Naval Base San Diego: What You Need to Know
Courts-Martial at Naval Base San Diego
Three types of courts-martial can be convened at Naval Base San Diego. 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 Naval Base San Diego, 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 Naval Base San Diego
The convening authority at Naval Base San Diego depends on your assignment. For personnel assigned to shore commands, the General Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically Commander, Navy Region Southwest. For personnel assigned to fleet units, the convening authority may be Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet or Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, depending on your type of assignment. The Naval Base San Diego commanding officer can convene special and summary courts-martial for personnel under their command.
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 Naval Base San Diego.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Navy 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 sailors. 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 Navy administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Naval Base San Diego
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Naval Base San Diego, 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 Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). DSO attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often carrying heavy caseloads. They rotate assignments, which means your attorney may change during your case. They also work within the same military structure as the prosecutors and judges in your case.
A civilian defense lawyer brings independence. I am not part of the chain of command. I am not subject to Navy reassignment. When I take your case, I am with you from start to finish — and I answer only to you.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards at installations where sailors have projected American sea power across the Pacific from the largest surface ship homeport on the West Coast for over a century — and I know that your defense requires the same resolve and readiness those sailors bring to every fight. 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 Naval Base San Diego
Naval Base San Diego is a United States Navy installation located on the eastern shore of San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, just south of downtown and the Coronado Bay Bridge. It is the world’s second largest surface ship naval base and the principal homeport of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s surface forces. The base comprises over 1,600 acres of land and 326 acres of water along San Diego Bay, with 13 piers supporting more than 60 ships and over 200 tenant commands. More than 24,000 military personnel and 10,000 civilians work at the installation, making it the largest concentration of Navy surface vessels on the West Coast.
The base traces its origins to 1918, when the Emergency Fleet Corporation, operating as Pacific Marine Construction, occupied the site to build concrete ships during World War I. After the war, the company returned the land to the City of San Diego, which deeded 98 acres to the federal government in 1919 for a docking and fleet repair base. On February 23, 1922, Acting Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt Jr. issued General Order 78, officially establishing the U.S. Destroyer Base, San Diego. During World War II, the base was redesignated the U.S. Naval Repair Base and repaired, converted, or maintained over 5,000 ships between 1943 and 1945. In 1946, the installation was redesignated Naval Station, San Diego, and in the 1990s it became Naval Base San Diego when region commanders were established under Navy Region Southwest. When the Long Beach Naval Shipyard closed in 1994, Naval Base San Diego became the primary homeport for Pacific Fleet surface combatants.
Today, Naval Base San Diego is home to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SURFPAC), the type commander responsible for manning, training, and equipping every Pacific surface combatant. The base also hosts Commander, Navy Region Southwest, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, multiple destroyer squadrons, littoral combat ship squadrons, the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, and Naval Medical Center San Diego. Homeported ships include Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, amphibious assault ships, littoral combat ships, and support vessels. The base is divided into the wet-side, dry-side, and the Fleet and Family Complex, and also oversees the Broadway Complex, Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Admiral Baker Golf Course.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Naval Base San Diego fall under the authority of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, depending on assignment. The Defense Service Office provides assigned defense counsel for Navy personnel. Naval Base San Diego’s status as the largest surface ship homeport on the West Coast and the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet surface forces makes it one of the most strategically significant Navy installations in the 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 Naval Base San Diego?
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 Naval Base San Diego. 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 Naval Base San Diego may be handled on-base or deferred until a ship returns from deployment, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Naval Base San Diego?
Yes. Naval Base San Diego is a Navy installation, but San Diego is one of the largest military concentrations in the world. Naval Air Station North Island, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton all operate nearby. I represent sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, Guardians, and Coast Guard personnel facing military discipline anywhere in California or worldwide.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the DSO?
DSO attorneys are dedicated defense counsel, 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. 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 Navy. 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 Naval Base San Diego?
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 Naval Base San Diego, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Naval Base San Diego?
I travel to California 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 Naval Base San Diego Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Naval Base San Diego, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.