PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Pearl Harbor-Hickam 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 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Pearl Harbor-Hickam: What You Need to Know
Understanding how the military justice system works at JBPHH is the first step in protecting yourself. Knowing why a seasoned civilian defense lawyer matters is the second. This section covers both.
Courts-Martial at Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Three types of courts-martial can be convened at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 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 JBPHH, 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 Pearl Harbor-Hickam
The convening authority at JBPHH depends on your service and assignment. For Navy personnel, the General Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. For Air Force personnel, the GCMCA is typically the Commander, Pacific Air Forces. The JBPHH commander and unit commanders can convene special and summary courts-martial for personnel under their command.
The convening authority decides whether to refer charges, what charges to prefer, and whether to offer you non-judicial punishment instead of a court-martial. A skilled defense lawyer can engage with the convening authority early. Before charges are referred, there may be an opportunity to advocate for your interests, present mitigating evidence, or persuade the command to take a different path.
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 JBPHH.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Navy and Air Force 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 service members.
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 Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At JBPHH, 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
Because JBPHH is a joint base, the military assigns defense counsel based on your service. The Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). The Air Force provides defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel (ADC). Both DSO and ADC 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 military 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 throughout Hawaii and the Pacific for years. I know how the military justice system works here. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. And I have the trial experience to fight for you.
About Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) is a United States military installation on the south shore of Oahu, Hawaii, adjacent to Honolulu. The base was formed on October 1, 2010, when Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base were merged under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The Navy serves as the host service through Navy Region Hawaii. The naval station traces its roots to 1899, when the first naval facility was established at Pearl Harbor, and was formally designated a naval station in 1908. Hickam Field was named after Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam, a pioneer of military aviation. The airfield was completed and activated in 1938, becoming the principal Army Air Corps airfield in Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field, killing 2,403 military personnel and civilians and drawing the United States into World War II. Since 1940, Pearl Harbor has been the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
JBPHH is home to over 160 commands and is one of the most strategically significant military installations in the Pacific. The Pearl Harbor side hosts the headquarters of U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, Destroyer Squadron 31, Submarine Squadrons 1 and 7, and the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility — one of only four public Navy shipyards in the United States, with four dry docks capable of maintaining nuclear submarines. The Hickam side hosts the headquarters of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the 15th Wing, the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard, the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing, the 647th Air Base Group, and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The base shares runways with Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Ten surface ships are homeported at JBPHH, and Navy Region Hawaii supports more than 25,000 sailors and 10,000 civilian employees across Oahu and Kauai.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at JBPHH are conducted under the authority of U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Air Forces commanders. The Navy Defense Service Office and the Air Force Area Defense Counsel provide assigned defense counsel. JBPHH is one of the most important joint military installations in the Indo-Pacific, serving as the headquarters for both the Navy and Air Force service components of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
For defense at other installations in Hawaii, see our Hawaii Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Pearl Harbor-Hickam?
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 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ.
Do you represent all branches at Pearl Harbor-Hickam?
Yes. JBPHH is a joint Navy and Air Force installation, but it is also home to Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel assigned to various commands. Oahu also hosts Schofield Barracks, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. I represent sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, Guardians, and Coast Guard personnel facing military discipline anywhere in Hawaii.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the DSO or ADC?
Because JBPHH is a joint base, the military assigns defense counsel based on your service. Navy personnel are represented by the Defense Service Office (DSO), and Air Force personnel are represented by the Area Defense Counsel (ADC). Both provide 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 in Hawaii and across the Pacific. 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 or the Air Force. 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 Pearl Harbor-Hickam?
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 JBPHH, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Pearl Harbor-Hickam?
I travel to Hawaii regularly 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 defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards throughout Hawaii and the Pacific for years — and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to a Pearl Harbor-Hickam Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.