You Need An Experienced Court Martial Defense Lawyer When Facing A Court-Martial In Spain

If you are facing UCMJ charges while stationed in Spain, you need the guidance of an experienced aggressive military defense lawyer. Cases in a foreign country are often additionally unfair because of the scrutiny placed on them by higher command and due to the local and international media attention. The risk of unlawful command influence (UCI) is even greater when a service member overseas is suspected of a crime. Commanders have a great deal of media and higher command pressure on them to prosecute in these cases and the rights of the accused service member are often only an afterthought. Only the best aggressive military defense lawyer can even the playing field.

The Risks of a Military Court Martial in Spain

Criminal convictions during your military service can ruin all the awards you have received in your military record so far and end your military career with a punitive or negative discharge. Such a discharge can make it impossible to find employment that is in line with your qualifications even after your military career is over. Even worse, a court-martial conviction without the best possible military defense usually results in significant prison time for you and the loss of financial support for any family you may have. Not only do you lose your freedom but they lose your pay, your BAH and TriCare. To ensure that you mount the best defense when facing a military investigation and court-martial, you need an aggressive, experienced military defense lawyer in Rota, Spain.

Unlike many other defense lawyers, pleading guilty is an option of last resort with Freeburg Litigation. When we take a case, we force the military prosecutors to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. We take nearly every case to trial and fight the allegations in front of a military panel or judge (depending on which is the best tactic for your individual case). Our court martial outcomes speak for themselves. You and your future is our main concern. Our court martial lawyers will work on your case from day one, always fighting aggressively in court martial and administrative separation cases in the U.S. and worldwide. Call today to consult with an experienced military defense lawyer.

Court-Martial Timeline

Why Call Freeburg Litigation, Aggressive UCMJ Lawyers in Spain?

The experienced military defense lawyers at Freeburg Litigation have earned a reputation for defending service members at military installations worldwide. If you are stationed in Spain and are suspected of a military crime, then having the most hard-hitting criminal defense lawyer can be the difference between getting convicted or winning your case. Our military criminal defense lawyers represent Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen in both UCMJ and administrative matters to include defending service members accused of sexual assault, murder, rape, child rape, fraud, theft and other offenses under the UCMJ, often receiving full acquittals or an acquittal on all of the serious charges with a very light sentence on the remaining charges.

After trying complex commercial cases in federal court in New York City, Nathan Freeburg entered active duty with the U.S. Army where he deployed to Iraq and practiced as a prosecutor, as a Division Chief of Military Justice, as a military defense attorney and then was handpicked to train and advise Army defense lawyers worldwide for the U.S. Army Defense Counsel Assistance Program. During his time on active duty, Nathan tried or consulted on the most well-known cases in military, some with worldwide recognition and developed an expertise in cross-examining alleged sexual assault victims, law enforcement agents and senior military commanders. Having defended service members for allegations in and out of the U.S., this aggressive Spain military defense lawyer has extensive experience handling different kinds of charges including sexual assault, murder, theft, rape, child pornography, Article 31, NJP, separation and discharge proceedings. If you are facing any kind of military legal problem, talk to Nathan Freeburg for experienced advice and the best aggressive military defense.

Contacting the Best Rota, Spain, Military Defense Lawyer

Service members stationed in Spain deserve the best military lawyers to represent them at their court martial or administrative separation proceeding.
If you or a family member are stationed in Rota and are suspected of a military offense such as sex assault or if you are facing an administrative separation, Article 15, show cause board, letter of reprimand or GOMOR, then call our military defense lawyers immediately.

How Military Trials Under the UCMJ Began in Rota, Spain

Technically, the commander of Naval Station Rota is a Spanish Vice Admiral while the base is fully funded by the USA. The base is located in Rota, a small town close to El Puerto de Santa Maria. The base inhabitants form the largest US community on the Spanish territory. It hosts Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen. Most of the inhabitants are American. The base is fully operational and run by both countries through a mutual agreement as a co-base.  It includes an airfield and a port and its strategic location is close to the Straits of Gibraltar. At the same time, it is in the middle of the distance between Southwest Asia and the United States of America.

NS Rota and court-martial jurisdiction dates to 1953. The Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, decided to improve relationships with the United States, half a century after the Spanish Civil War. He provided the U.S. Navy with one of the most strategic points on the Spanish map, well known in the history for previous operations – Cadiz. By 1964 submarines were stationed there and there was a thriving UCMJ practice. By 1980, significant improvements were made to Rota. NS Rota then hosted over 16000 service members and their families. After the end of the Cold War, Rota contracted to about 5200 acres these days and hosts not more than 4000 citizens.

One notable incident in the history of Naval Station Rota took place in April, 2011, when the US Navy commander was relieved of command after an investigation regarding the use of drugs at NS Rota. Under the Status of Forces (SOFA) agreement with Spain, United States service members will generally be prosecuted by Spain if it involves an off-post civilian offense while the Navy will prosecute military-specific crimes.

The Naval Station Rota Courtroom

The prosecutors at Rota are trained by the expert civilian and military prosecutors at the Navy’s Code 20 at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. making trials here especially unfair.  They also work hand in glove with NCIS to convict you and NCIS will ignore evidence of your innocence, only seeking to convict you.  For a fighting chance you need an experienced court martial lawyer.

Navy Rota