Appellate Courts now involved in President Obama’s possible unlawful command influence.

On May 7, 2013, President Obama stated, “[t]he bottom line is: I have no tolerance for this…I expect consequences…So I don’t just want more speeches or awareness programs or training, but ultimately folks look the other way.  If we find out somebody’s engaging in this, they’ve got to be held accountable — prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court-martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged.  Period.”  As blogged about previously, a trial judge recently ruled in two Navy court-martials that these words amounted to unlawful command influence and that a punitive discharge could not be a part of the sentences of two Sailors facing sexual assault charges.  Now, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Appeals is involved as it has stayed proceedings in another court-martial to rule on this issue.  This saga is far from over.  The decisions that are made regarding the President’s words in sexual assault cases may have a huge impact in your case if you are currently facing sexual assault charges in a court-martial, a nonjudicial punishment hearing or adverse administrative action.  If you are facing sexual allegations in this environment, you need an experienced and informed advocate on your side.  To speak to an experienced court-martial and military defense attorney, call Bill Cassara at 706-860-5769 for a free consultation.