I am afraid a military defense counsel is likely to further his own career and not zealously represent my son. Should we hire a civilian attorney?
The military justice system is similar to the civilian criminal justice system, but there are differences. Military attorneys go through several months of formal training to learn the military justice system.
Military defense counsel are relatively young and new to the courtroom. Military defense counsel tend to be more respectful of the judge and military witnesses than are civilian attorneys. (This often is more a function of military courtesy than an indication of not doing their job.)
While they generally will have a superior knowledge of the military, the command, and the court-martial process, and be personally familiar with the military judge and how that judge runs a court-martial, they often lack experience. Also, while a civilian attorney who can fight to the death over every little issue, a military lawyer may not be inclined to do so. (Sometimes fighting over every issue is a bad approach.) Military defense counsel are not supposed to be reprimanded, criticized, or otherwise harmed for having zealously defended their clients. See, UCMJ Art. 37(b), 10 U.S.C. 837(b).
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