The Area Defense Counsel: your advocate in times of need

  • Published
  • By By Capt. Velma Cobb and Staff Sgt. William Jones
  • Area Defense Counsel
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Everyone has seen the photos and read the posters that say, "The Area Defense Counsel works for you." But you may have wondered: who are we and what do we do? 

As you might have guessed, we are active-duty attorneys and paralegals. But, unlike the professionals at the legal office, we don't work for the command. The ADC was established in 1976 to provide defense services independent from the base legal office. That means that we represent our clients, not the Air Force. 

In 1983, Maj. Gen. Thomas Bruton, then the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, put it this way: "It is not the job of the defense counsel to assist or make it easy for the government to establish or present its case. To the contrary, the independent defense structure pioneered by the Air Force was in part established to enable defense counsel to freely make those many difficult and sometimes challenging decisions without fear of command interference or reprisal." 

So that's who we are. Now to answer what we do. We represent active-duty members in actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice at courts-martial and nonjudicial punishment actions. We also represent clients in a variety of other actions, including administrative discharges, referral performance reports, and letters of reprimand. We can assist while the command is still investigating, before any action is taken against you. 

Under military law, an Air Force member suspected of committing a criminal offense has the right to remain silent and the right to consult with a military lawyer free of charge prior to making any statement. Additionally, any statement that is made, whether oral or written, may be used against the member in a court-martial, Article 15, nonjudicial punishment action, or administrative action. The fact that a member exercises either the right to remain silent or the right to consult with an attorney cannot be held against the member by Air Force authorities. 

Anyone who needs our services or has any questions should not hesitate to drop by the ADC office or give us a call. We are at 397 3rd Street (just North of the Airman Leadership School building), at 696-4233.