Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
- Stars & Stripes reports.
The Army recently asked 45 of its soldiers in the highest enlisted rank to retire for substandard performance, past criminal convictions, problems with alcohol, fraternization or sexual harassment in their recent pasts.
Of the 45 sergeants major whose records were flagged under the newly reinstituted Qualitative Management Program, 28 complied, putting in their retirement paperwork and quietly fading away.
But 15 fought it, arguing that they were valuable Army assets despite any previous incidents. A panel of their peers usually agreed: 12 of the 15 were allowed to remain on active duty. The remaining three were forced to retire, however.
- Military.com reports.
A Navy captain was demoted because she berated and assaulted her crew, not because she led her guided missile cruiser on a drag-race with another U.S. warship in the Pacific, an investigation shows.
I think they meant RFC’d – Relieved for Cause. But how about this nugget.
Among allegations not substantiated was one that she endangered the ship while allowing a drag-race between the Cowpens and the destroyer USS John S. McCain in February 2009. Four witnesses described the 2009 race off of Okinawa, but they differed on how close the two vessels came to each other before the race was halted. One sailor said that during the race, aimed at boosting morale, the McCain got ahead of the Cowpens and began drifting to the left into the path of the Cowpens. Though the report did not question that the race took place, it said the allegation of "hazarding a vessel" was unsubstantiated.
- Here is an article on United States v. Boyle. [Disclosure: I was defense counsel for SGT Ryan Sullivan, mentioned in the article.]
- Hennis members panel selection continues. It appears they have five members so far.
- JDNews reports.
Authorities are again stressing gun safety after they say a Camp Lejeune Marine demonstrating to friends how to disarm a gunman instead shot himself in the hand.
- WJZ.com reports.
A military judge sentenced a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman to one year in the brig on Thursday for stealing about $28,000 worth of electronic lab equipment from the academy and selling it on eBay.
- Island Packet.com reports.
A Marine arrested last year on child pornography charges faces a general court-martial next week at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrested Gunnery Sgt. Troy Pearson in October for wrongful possession and distribution of child pornography while he was home on a two-week leave from a deployment to Afghanistan, said Gunnery Sgt. Chad McMeen, air station spokesman.