Here’s the question, I think. Military.com, as with many other media outlets are reporting: Nidal Malik Hasan’s overly zealous religious views and strange behavior worried the doctors overseeing his medical training, but they saw no evidence that he was violent or a threat. The question, a legitimate question, has been…
Articles Posted in court-martial
New CGCCA opinion
The CGCCA has issued a decision in the court-martial: United States v. Montuoro. A short sweet reminder of sentence comparison issues when there are co-accused’s. Sentence comparison among co-accused’s is a different issue than sentence appropriateness.
How could you?
Yes, of course John Galligan is getting that question. We get it all the time. How could you represent so-and-so at court-martial? Here is MichaelTomasky’sBlog. Banner CNN day: Wolf Blitzer apparently really distinguished himself yesterday by asking Nidal Hasan’s military lawyer, retired Colonel John Galligan, how on earth he could…
Technology and the fourth amendment
The Wall Street Journal reports: The only good news out of the Fort Hood massacre is that U.S. electronic surveillance technology was able to pick up Major Hasan’s phone calls to an al Qaeda-loving imam in Yemen. The bad news is the people and agencies listening to Hasan didn’t know…
AF annual drug warning
I’m not sure why, but it seems the Air Force must have a checklist of annual warnings. The official website makes one about prescription drugs, entitled: Prescription meds: Proceed with caution. The caution advises that misuse of prescription medications can result in disciplinary action, including court-martial. When Airmen ignore inspecting…
Meteor burns out
WESH2.com reports: A former astronaut pleaded to a lesser charge and avoided jail time for attacking a romantic rival in Orlando on Tuesday, but she could still face military prosecution. Navy captain Nowak will be awaiting a letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel (connected with show-cause board actions), or…
Military insanity defense – Part III
If Major Hasan raises an insanity defense for his acts at Fort Hood, how might the defense actually work if at all. Presumably he will present a combination of witnesses and documents. The media is reporting that prior to reporting to Fort Hood Major Hasan had “problems” so there will…
Military insanity defense – Part II
In Part I, I briefly outlined the formal examination process prior to presenting an insanity/lack of mental responsibility defense. Now here is some information on the “law” or legal standard for an insanity defense. This is the defense that Major Hasan and his lawyers are going to have to consider…
Military insanity defense – Part I
The military (insanity) lack of mental responsibility defense is set out in several places relevant to Major Hasan and the events at Fort Hood. The first step that should be taken by a prudent convening authority in this case is to order a mental examination under R.C.M. 706, as soon…
Toobin on toolong
CNN Justice reports: Toobin: Cabinet members may end up negotiating which legal system will try Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the suspect in last week’s mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said Tuesday. CNN: Would the charges be the same in either case?…