Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 05, 2026
Military Defense Firm: Know Your Rights Before You Talk
TLDR
- Capovilla & Williams offers former JAG attorneys to help service members avoid career-ending mistakes during military investigations.
- The firm explains Article 31 rights, lawyer access, Article 15 refusal, and response deadlines so service members can navigate investigations.
- Capovilla & Williams ensures service members get legal advocates, protecting their rights and futures during military investigations and disciplinary actions.
- Former Army JAG officers founded Capovilla & Williams, and their podcast and book offer defense strategies for court-martial cases.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because service members often face investigations without fully understanding their rights, leading to statements or acceptances of punishment that can have life-altering consequences. The guidance from Capovilla & Williams empowers troops to make informed decisions, potentially preventing wrongful convictions, separations, or career-ending reprimands. Given the military's unique legal system, knowing rights like Article 31(b) protections and the option to refuse nonjudicial punishment is crucial for fair treatment. This information is especially relevant for those stationed at high-risk installations like Fort Benning and Fort Campbell, where military justice actions are common.
Summary
Capovilla & Williams, a national military defense law firm founded by two former Army judge advocates, is urging service members to learn their rights before they answer questions from military investigators or their command. The firm warns that many troops facing an investigation give statements, sign paperwork, or accept punishment before they understand what is at stake. An investigation can start with a single allegation, and the result can range from a letter of reprimand to separation from the military to a federal conviction at court-martial. Decisions made in the first few days often matter the most.
Dan Higgins, a partner at the firm and a 10-year Army veteran, emphasized the firm's commitment to justice, stating, 'I believe justice transcends politics or whatever policy is trending at the moment.' The firm outlines key rights service members should know, including the right to remain silent under Article 31(b) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the right to a lawyer (both military defense counsel at no cost and civilian defense lawyers), the right to turn down nonjudicial punishment in most cases unless attached to or embarked on a vessel, and the right to respond to administrative actions such as letters of reprimand and separation boards. Christopher D. Jones, the firm's chief operating officer and a retired Air Force colonel, added, 'Everyone deserves an advocate and someone in their corner.'
The firm was founded by Robert F. Capovilla and Mickey S. Williams, both former JAG officers. Capovilla served in the Army JAG Corps as a magistrate, prosecutor, trial defense counsel, and special assistant U.S. attorney, and has been a source on military law for CNN, Military Times, and Stars and Stripes. Williams served with the 1st Ranger Battalion and deployed to combat four times before becoming a judge advocate. Capovilla & Williams represents service members of every branch worldwide, with a focus on Fort Benning and Fort Campbell, and also handles federal employment law cases, Title IX matters, and VA disability claims. The firm hosts the 'Military Justice Today' podcast and wrote the book 'Court Martial Cases: Defense Strategies and Best Practices.' For more information, visit military-defenseattorney.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Military Defense Firm: Know Your Rights Before You Talk
