http://militaryadvocates.com/blog A blog about military law, justice and related matters Tue, 25 May 2010 18:42:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Congress has moved a step closer to repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the policy which prevents openly gay military members from serving and which provides a basis for discharge of members who violate the policy.  The Washington Post, among numerous other news outlets, is reporting that President Obama has ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/05/25/a-step-closer-to-repeal-of-dadt/ The third and final court-martial involving allegations that a Navy SEAL assaulted a suspected terrorist concluded today in Norfolk with a military panel finding the accused, P02 Matthew McCabe not guilty of all charges. Two other SEALs were also fully acquitted at separate courts-martial in connection with the same incident. ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/05/06/seal-courts-martial-update-ii-third-acquittal/ Two of the three SEALs who turned down an offer of nonjudicial punishment and demanded court-martial in connection with allegations that a high-value detainee was assaulted have been acquitted of the charges against them.   The detainee, Ahmed Hashim Abed is suspected of masterminding the brutal 2004 killings of four American ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/05/05/seal-courts-martial-update/ The single army mom we discussed here who refused her deployment because she had no one to care for her child is being discharged and will not be court-martialed.  http://www.nola.com/military/index.ssf/2010/02/army_discharging_single_mom_wh.html http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/05/05/single-mom-who-refused-deployment-discharged/ The soldier we discussed here who was charged with threatening fellow soldiers with violence in a rap song, and who was facing court-martial in Iraq as a result, has been discharged in a plea deal with the government.  While it is not spelled out explicitly in the article, it sounds like ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/05/05/soldier-discharged-for-rap-song-threats/ An Army Lieutenant Colonel who was previously diagnosed with kleptomania will face court-martial at Fort Benning for stealing $37 worth of challenge coins from the post exchange.  Despite an investigating officer's recommendation that the matter be resolved through an administrative discharge, the convening authority decided to take the matter to ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/01/18/medication-change-defense-for-army-lieutenant-colonel-facing-shoplifting-court-martial/ A single mother who was scheduled to deploy with her unit to Afghanistan on November 5 has been charged with missing movement, absence without leave, dereliction of duty and insubordinate conduct.   The specialist's mother was supposed to take care of her 10-month old son for the year-long deployment , but reportedly ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/01/13/single-army-mom-who-refused-deployment-charged/ Two of the three Seals charged with abusing an Iraqi detainee will face court-martial in Iraq, not in Norfolk, as originally anticipated.  Today, a military judge granted defense motions to move the trials to Iraq where the alleged victim is being held and can be produced as a live witness ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/01/11/two-seal-courts-martial-moved-to-iraq/ The government is seeking a delay in the first scheduled court-martial of the three Navy Seals charged with abusing an Iraqi detainee, a case which has garnered significant attention.  The first court-martial was to start today.  The defense is opposing the delay and as of this morning, the matter appears unresolved, according to ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/01/11/first-seal-court-martial-set-for-today/ This Stars and Stipes article highlights an interesting case pending at Fort Stewart, GA, in which a soldier is accused of threatening violence toward other soldiers and to go on a "rampage."  In addition, he is charged with distributing, "to soldiers in his unit original songs wrongfully threatening acts of violence ... http://militaryadvocates.com/blog/2010/01/06/soldier-charged-for-threats-song/