You Need An Experienced Court Martial Defense Lawyer When Facing A Court Martial in Turkey

If you are facing UCMJ charges while stationed in Turkey, 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 Turkey

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 Turkey.

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 Turkey?

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 Turkey 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 Turkey 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 Turkey Court Martial Defense Lawyer

Service members stationed in Turkey 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 Turkey 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.

American Military Courtrooms in Turkey

Airmen are investigated for court-martial under the UCMJ in Turkey. Turkey’s status as an OCONUS location increases the number of investigations and potential trials by court-martial and making trials often especially unfair because of the media and higher command visibility, making an experienced civilian military defense lawyer the best option.

At at military courtroom, the deck is stacked against the accused Airman. If you are tried for a Turkey case your lawyers and paralegals will be outnumbered and the commanding general who sends the case against you to trial will personally pick the members of the jury. As if this isn’t enough, they won’t even have to reach an unanimous verdict to convict you (unlike civilian court). The prosecutors will have all the money for experts and investigators they want but your defense lawyer will have to give your case strategy in order to ask the prosecution to fund your own defense experts (and they can and usually do deny your experts anyway). The prosecutors will work hand in glove with OSI to convict you, and OSI will refuse to look at any evidence that may show your innocence. Sometimes the prosecutors will add on minor charges like being late to work (called a “Failure to Report” or FTR) just so they can say you were convicted, even if you are somehow acquitted on the serious accusations. The prosecutors for Incirlik cases are personally trained by the expert civilian and military prosecutors at the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School. In fact, on some cases they will even send these prosecutors to help prosecute you! Considering all of this, you will not receive a fair trial for an Incirlik case. Your best chance is a very aggressive, experienced military defense lawyer who does not care about his or her career, but only about winning your case.

How Military Trials Under the UCMJ Began for Incirlik Air Base

Incirlik Air Base in Turkey is operated by both the US and the Turkish governments. Incirlik is only 8 km away from Ardana, the fifth largest city in Turkey and the largest one in the southern part of the country. It is also around 50 km from the Mediterranean Sea, close to the Middle East. The population is mostly American – over 5000 Airmen. However, the base also hosts a few hundred British and Turkish soldiers. The Second Cairo Conference represented the beginnings of Incirlik Air Base with the actual construction beginning in 1951 and American Airmen and UCMJ jurisdiction arriving thereafter. Its initial purpose was to host the medium and advanced bombers. The hosting also included maintenance and repair operations. The first name was Adana Air Base and was given in 1955. The base kept it for three years only, as in 1958 it was renamed to Incirlik. Incirlik’s proximity to both the Soviet Union and the Middle East made it a strategic location throughout the Cold War and after.

The Incirlik Courtroom

Airmen are tried by court martial under the UCMJ at Incirlik in front of a rotating Air Force Judge.

Manas Air Force

How Military Trials Under the UCMJ Began for Izmir Air Base

Izmir Air Base in Turkey is almost 400 km away from Istanbul but close to the Aegean Sea. The first U.S. Air Force activity (with the related UCMJ jurisdiction) occurred at Izmir in the fall of 1952. The US Navy also had a presence beginning in the spring of 1954. Izmir Air Base was connected with the nearby Cigli Air base but in 1970 Cigli closed and Izmir expanded.

The Izmir Courtroom

Today, the U.S. Air Force presence at Izmir is relatively small and Airmen from Izmir are most likely to be tried by court martial under the UCMJ at Incirlik Air Base in front of a rotating Air Force Judge.