Discharge Upgrade Course

My name is James Phillips. I practice military law in the US and around the World.  I am primarily a military lawyer, but every once in awhile I will venture into the Civilian Criminal World. I have been lead counsel in many high profile international military law cases. As lead counsel in US v. Martin, I had a major victory in a case that remains at the forefront of defending UCMJ 120 cases. This national case was followed in the national media as a example of Government overreaching in UCMJ 120 cases. see “Army major found not guilty of sexual assault charges.”

As lead counsel in US v. Warner, where my client was accused of premeditated murder of an Iraqi terrorist, resulted in complete dismissal of the murder charge.

I had a Fort Knox recruiter’s sexual assault case dismissed through USAREC. This was a rare event these days. The case was dismissed at the Article 32, preliminary hearing.

Right after that, I had a military judge alone recruiter case where my client was accused by two future recruits, not guilty.

I have represented numerous helicopter pilots have had excellent results with one of my clients being retained after a negative 15-6, with a complete removal of all adverse information in his AMHRR at the DASEB. I had another officer retained on active duty after a “show cause” board and serious allegations of misconduct at Fort Rucker. Another pilot had a GOMOR removed from his record and has been fully restored in all of his rank and priveleges.

A former Afghanistan veteran was fully acquired of a “shaken baby case” in April 2017. This was a four year victory and now we are working to upgrade his discharge. The judge in the case referred to my close as the best they had ever heard in a criminal case.

This past year I have had a publicized US Army Quality Management Program victory. My client had his entire Military Records expunged of all adverse documents while beating the QMP process.

As a military law attorney, while stationed at Fort Campbell as an Army JAG, I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) and spent three years at the Fort Campbell Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. I proudly served as the “Strike” – Second Brigade Combat Team- Trial Counsel, represented more than a thousand clients in my capacity as a Legal Assistance Attorney and Chief of Legal Assistance. At the end of my military career, I was assigned to Trial Defense Services as a Defense Counsel at the Fort Campbell Office for Trial Defense Services Region III. I have also represented numerous clients as a Civilian Defense Counsel.