OKINAWA COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, or administrative separation board in Okinawa, you need an aggressive civilian defense lawyer on your side immediately. As an Okinawa court-martial defense lawyer, David S. Hendrickson has spent years trying and winning courts-martial on the island — at Kadena Air Base, Camp Foster, and installations across Okinawa — fighting to protect your rank, pay, retirement, and freedom.
Okinawa 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 Okinawa. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense Lawyer in Okinawa: What You Need to Know
What’s at stake in a court-martial in Okinawa?
A court-martial conviction can end your military career and follow you for years. A conviction can mean confinement, a punitive discharge (bad-conduct or dishonorable for enlisted; dismissal for officers), reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, sex-offender registration, and the loss of retirement and veterans’ benefits — plus a federal conviction that can affect your civilian employment, housing, and future. On Okinawa, the distance makes it harder: confinement thousands of miles from home, separation from your family, and SOFA and immigration consequences that can outlast your case.
How are courts-martial handled at Kadena Air Base and Camp Foster?
Courts-martial in Okinawa fall under your branch and command’s convening authority — Marine Corps cases generally through III Marine Expeditionary Force; Air Force cases through the 18th Wing and 5th Air Force at Kadena; Army cases through the 10th Regional Support Group at Torii Station; and Navy cases through their component command. The joint command, U.S. Forces Japan, oversees them all. The convening authority decides whether to prefer charges, refer your case to court-martial, and approve any sentence. Having tried courts-martial across these Okinawa 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. 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.
Okinawa Bases We Serve
Kadena Air Base
The Kadena Air Base Law Center houses an autonomous Office of Special Trial Counsel district, which uniquely centralizes independent military justice decisions for serious offenses across the entire Pacific, Hawaii, and Alaska.
MCAS Futenma
Because Futenma operates within a hyper-visible, urban environment, the Marine command frequently utilizes aggressive military justice sting operations targeting drug distribution, larceny, and fraud to preemptively protect the station's operational readiness.
Camp Foster
As the central hub for the Legal Services Support Section-Pacific, Camp Foster manages the legal machinery and courts-martial for Marines stationed across Japan, Korea, and remote Pacific detachments.
Camp Hansen
Because the base hosts high-turnover, forward-deployed infantry battalions, commanders heavily rely on fast-tracked Non-Judicial Punishment (Article 15) to maintain ironclad discipline before units deploy overseas.
Camp Courtney
Courtney's command legal teams focus heavily on the initial administrative processing of high-profile felony cases before transferring them out for trial.
Camp Schwab
Due to the base's extreme northern isolation on Okinawa, the local command relies heavily on expedited administrative separations and Non-Judicial Punishments
Camp Kinser
Camp Kinser’s mission as a primary logistics and supply hub results in a high volume of UCMJ cases specifically centered around property crimes, supply-chain fraud, and grand larceny.
USAG Okinawa
Because the installation operates as a small Army garrison heavily outnumbered by larger Marine and Air Force footprints, its prosecutors rely entirely on a Trial Defense Services detachment located in South Korea to provide legal counsel to accused Soldiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a military defense lawyer do in Okinawa?
A military defense lawyer represents service members facing UCMJ charges, investigations, court-martial, NJP, administrative separation, and related adverse actions in Okinawa.
Can a civilian military lawyer represent me in Okinawa?
Yes. A civilian military defense lawyer can represent service members in Okinawa in court-martial and other military justice matters, subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the service branch and forum.
Do I need a lawyer before speaking to investigators or command?
Absolutely. Never speak to an investigator or command member about your case without consulting an attorney. Always invoke your Article 31b right to silence and say “I want a lawyer.” No exceptions.
Do you handle court-martial and administrative separation cases for all branches?
Yes. We handle military justice and administrative matters for clients across the armed forces stationed in Okinawa.
What kinds of cases do you handle?
We handle courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separation boards, officer misconduct, adverse administrative actions, NJP, and military criminal investigations.
Talk to an Okinawa Military Defense Lawyer
If you are in Okinawa 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.