When your freedom and your military career are on the line, proven experience is your strongest defense. Facing a General Court-Martial can feel deeply isolating, but you do not have to fight these charges alone. As seasoned military defense attorneys, we have a history of securing full acquittals and saving the lives of service members across the globe.
Below, explore testimonies from service members across the Army, Navy, and Air Force who trusted our worldwide UCMJ defense strategies to protect their futures when absolutely everything was at stake.
General Court-Martial
April 06, 2026 | Hired Attorney
This review will never be enough for me to show the gratitude that I have for Mr. Carpenter, but I hope anyone who reads it will see it and hire him immediately and allow him to do what he does best, fight for you and make sure you get the best outcome possible given your circumstances. First and foremost, Stephen is an amazing human being. He is kind, caring but is going to tell you his legal opinion and remind you that he cannot predict ANY outcome. I think this is important for anyone with any situation involving the military court system. I knew he was the right person for me. I was being falsely accused of things I did not do, but let’s just say that when this started, I felt I was not going to be able to defend myself. My investigation began back in 2022 and after hiring multiple Lawyers, I just did not feel the safety I needed. Given my background as a USAF Military Police officer, I understood I needed someone who could help me tell my side because this investigation was all about, he said she said with very little evidence to support the allegations. Late 2024, Stepehen was already under my radar and I finally made the decision to reached out to him. After our first conversation, I knew God had sent him my way. My first court martial was Scheduled for March of 2025, but after Stephen filed numerous motions that led to us receiving discovery, the Judge ordered a new date for early 2026. His tenacity and quick thinking were pivotal for our defense. Without this discovery I’m sure it would have been much more difficult for him to defend me. This discovery would be key in our success at my court martial. He constantly communicated with me, although overseas, he was attentive to me and made appropriate meetings needed for updates and I always felt heard. I also understood expectations as a client and given the geographical separation and his busy schedule that he was not always available, but he made it a priority to make sure I at least felt heard and for that I am very grateful. He utilized my ADC effectively and allowed her to work on things that he could not, but I never felt he was skipping any steps. He is amazing! Secondly, he was fair. He was generous and worked with me financially and I saw his desire to HELP and never felt that he was trying to take advantage of me or my family like I did with my previous lawyer whom I decided to let go. He checked off ALL boxes as the Lawyer I needed and felt could get the best outcome. Being realistic with myself, facing 81 years of jail time, sex registration, Domestic violence charges, use of controlled substances and sharing intimate images, I just could not let my guard down, but I had faith he would make sure he did his best job. Not only did he do his best but as you can see, he and our team of defense, ADC and all our experts were responsible for those five words of NOT GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES. Whether you are going through any legal matters or are searching to find someone to hire a lawyer for, do not move forward, Call STEPHEN. Please, all of his great reviews on here are for a reason. He is truly a dedicated professional whom I will recommend any day for the remainder of my life. I owe him my life, and he deserves nothing but praise. 4 long years of waiting and at almost 22 years of active duty, I will shortly be moving on with my life thanks to Stephen. He is fierce in the court room but caring when he needs to and is one of the most intelligent human beings, I’ve been around. THANK YOU AGAIN STEPHEN & THANK YOU FOR YOUR DESIRE TO TRULY HELP THOSE OF US IN NEED.
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army PFC
Ft. Lewis, WA
April 15, 2025 | Hired Attorney
Guardian, Warrior for Justice
“Stephen Carpenter defended me with a professionalism and skill that I am in extreme gratitude for. I have a better chance at life because of him than I would have had without him. A wise man will never choose to go to war, but sometimes enemies will attack you in ways you never though humanity was capable of. In these situations, men like Stephen carpenter are your guardian where you didn’t even think you needed defenses. I believe he is a man who is truly standing for justice.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army SGT
Ft. Lewis, WA
August 25, 2024 | Hired Attorney
Best Lawyer Ever
“Mr. Carpenter handled my case with the uppermost care. He went above and beyond to ensure that my Court Martial was threatening my career and my life, and Mr. Carpenter assured me that he would do his very best to help me get through these challenging times. He kept me informed, assisted with getting experts and helping me make decisions about my Court Martial that I had no experience with. I would recommend Mr. Carpenter to any Service Member facing UCMJ. He goes above and beyond to take care of his clients.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air Force TSgt
Germany
September 1, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Still thanking God!!!
“My son was court martialed and was facing six charges. By the time he went to court, he was facing a single charge and was acquitted after a 50-minute deliberation. Attorney Carpenter is not only strategic, competent, and professional, he is honest. He cared about my son not just as a client but as a person. He communicated with us and also made sure all my son’s rights were protected. This was a tumultuous time for my son as well as for our family. Attorney Carpenter made sure we were informed and supported. Attorney Carpenter is trustworthy. He will tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. He will go above and beyond and exhaust every avenue necessary for the best possible defense. I was really impressed by his ability to navigate difficult and sensitive areas with caution, empathy and effectiveness. If you are on the fence or searching, stop here. Attorney Carpenter is an excellent attorney, who works with an experienced and awesome team of professionals. They do all that is necessary to ensure you or your child receive a superior defense. You will not find a more successful, experienced, or honorable attorney. I know all this to be true because my son has his life back and we have our son back all thanks to Attorney Carpenter, his awesome team and God!”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army PFC
JBLM, WA
February 20, 2016 | Hired Attorney
Fully acquittal- Sexual Assault
“Currently stationed in JBLM, I was really in a dark place for over a year. I was lied on by CID saying I confessed to a crime that I never committed. After about 15 hours of investigation I knew that I would have needed a powerhouse attorney. Mr. Carpenter instantly took my case and stayed in contact any chance he could. He takes over a court room with his presence, and never gives prosecution a chance to build momentum. He saved my life.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air Force Airman
Germany
March 15, 2015
NOT GUILTY, FULL ACQUITTAL!!!
“My prayers were answered when I found Stephen Carpenter. Without him I know my Airman wouldn’t be coming home this month. After much research, as well as personal military references, I knew my Airman was in good hands… the BEST hands. It was the wisest investment we have ever made. Stephen, and his staff of experts ,kept us informed every step of the way — of the process , our options and what to expect should we have to go to court. As a mom , there is nothing more frightening than to know your child is thousands of miles away , alone with a court appointed attorney who may just look at them as a number…. A way to check the box in his/her career. Not with Stephen. He truly cares about his clients – and their families back home. He , too , is invested in a positive outcome for all parties involved. His work ethic is impeccable. He encouraged us to spend time as a family while he and his staff worked until all hours of the night preparing every detail for what the next step might hold. He was amazing to watch in court . He had every ear perked and his style was captivating…. and , obviously for us, successful to the end. He gave us the best 2 words I’ve ever heard — NOT GUILTY !! He , Mr. Court , and their incredible panel of experts will forever be heroes in our world. Much like our children who choose to serve our great nation- there are never enough words to express our gratitude for what they give back to us all. There is not a bigger fan of Court and Carpenter than me and my family. You should wholeheartedly give them a chance to bring joy , peace and a future back to your family as well.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air Force SrA
Germany
December 10, 2017 | Hired Attorney
My son’s trial
“My son’s life and his family’s life was held hostage for just about a year, by an accusation of sexual assault. Not only did his family and friends believe he was innocent, so did Stephen. Stephen kept all of us up to date on how my son’s case was progressing and worked very hard to be sure my son’s outcome would turn out as his family believed. Of course he couldn’t promise us the not guilty verdict, my son received, I am certain had my son not hired Stephen, my son’s life and his families, would be considerably different today. I highly recommend his expertise, as well as his compassion for his clients and their families.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army SPC
Germany
July 8, 2023 | Hired Attorney
Sex assault court-martial in Germany dismissed!
“I was facing 3 charges of sexual assault and hiring Mr. Carpenter was definitely the game-changing decision. He’s prepared for everything he made sure all our paperwork was squared away and submitted on time he met every deadline and exposed the government’s weaknesses. When I felt hopeless and had a million questions, he made time and answered them, and he did so truthfully and bluntly which goes a really long way when you’re in a bad situation like I was. If you’re facing issues that may require a lawyer just do yourself the favor and hire him, you won’t regret it.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army SGT
Germany
January 10, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Not Guilty of all Charges in Germany
“I was accused of 4 specifications of Article 120 and 2 specifications of Article 107. I lost all hope when I was referred with all these charges. Ended up finding Mr. Carpenter thru a web search and I gave him a call. Spoke to him about what I was getting charged with, everything that happen during the investigation process which in this case there was a lot of wrongful things they did to me. After speaking to Mr. Carpenter I knew that right there and then I had to hire him ASAP. Mr. Carpenter expertise and experience had gave me a boost of hope, he also had brought along 2 witness experts that crushed the government’s case. I would say this Mr. Carpenter CARES about his clients and he will put his all to make sure there will be a reasonable outcome. Thank you so much Mr. Carpenter! You are the best lawyer I ever had!”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army SGT
Ft. Lewis, WA
December 14, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Sexual Assault Allegation – General Court-Martial Case Dismissed
“At the beginning of this process, I was unsure what I should do being in the military. There was nothing bad to say about my military attorney and their defense team; however, it was only until I received notification the government was pushing for a General Court-Martial, being the maximum level, that I started looking for a civilian attorney with many years of experience. I was able to give Mr. Carpenter a call and scheduled a consultation within a few days. At the end of our conversation, I was given a new breath of hope to fight this allegation and decided to hire Mr. Carpenter as my attorney. Mr. Carpenter was able to be by my side during the Article 32 hearing, and I did not feel ill at ease once. He was very straight forward with information, let me know what to expect in the up coming months, and how he will tackle my case. He was always professional and I never once doubted his expertise or decisions. 1.5 months before the scheduled court date, Mr. Carpenter gave me news of the dismissal and I had nothing but thanks for the work he had put into my case. After the dismissal, the government and my command still decided to issue a letter of reprimand not knowing the full story, and I now await a separation board in 2022 after almost 1.5 years. I was not able to retain Mr. Carpenter as my attorney any further due to unforeseen financial circumstances; however, he did offer tactical consulting on my board case pro bono. Again, I have nothing but appreciation and respect for this man. I hope any who reads this can make an informed decision like I did.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air force SSgt
Germany
September 21, 2022 | Hired Attorney
A Beacon of hope, during a hopeless situation.
“Call Mr. Stephen Carpenter first, before you make any kind of official statement. He is, by far, the most outstanding military defense lawyer one could ask for. I had zero experience with the system, and my spouse and I had lots of questions. From our initial consultation to the final decision to be retained in active service, he was dedicated to finding the best outcome for my family and I. Stephen was able to successfully deliver all the right documentation to attain a favorable outcome. You will receive years of experience and individual attention through the highs and lows of your case. It can be a long wait to work through the process. Remain resilient, know that with Stephen in your corner you can have peace of mind. Do not hesitate by sitting on the fence, make the choice to get your career and life back on the rails. You can always trust that Mr. Carpenter is diligently working with your best interest in mind. The decision to hire Stephen Carpenter is the right answer. The thing is, when your lawyer meets the criteria (in terms of quality of work, quantity of work, and timelines) which Stephen did, there’s not too much more I can say. Simply put, regain control over what happens to you. -Thanks Stephen”
General Court-Martial
Drunk & Disorderly Conduct
Air force MSgt
Germany
September 13, 2020 | Hired Attorney
Brilliant lawyer! I couldn’t be more Happy
“19.5 years of service and my command team tried taking my E7 stripe. I higher Mr. Carpenter to represent me in the court martial. He was absolutely fantastic and his experience really shows. I had a full acquittal on all charges! His skills in the court room were worth every penny. I cannot say enough good things about him. I am truly grateful!”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air force SSgt
Germany
August 16, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Germany_USA
“I was falsely accused of sexual assault and was facing a court martial. When the charges were brought against me I had to wait approximately one month before speaking to the JAG that was assigned to me. After one phone call with the JAG I had a lack of confidence in their ability and experience in order to properly defend me. Immediately, I began researching attorneys and came across Mr. Stephen Carpenter Jr. In my opinion, Mr. Carpenter’s work experience and professionalism was unparalleled to the JAG assigned to me. Mr. Carpenter was in contact with me throughout the yearlong investigation making sure that I was allowed to continue to do my job. He was willing to contact the command team if I was ever unable to go TDY because of the investigation. After a year, the case was dropped and never made it to trial because of the reputation that comes with hiring Mr. Carpenter. I would recommend this attorney.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Harassment
Navy Petty Officer
Bremerton, WA
November 8, 2020 | Hired Attorney
The definition of the best
“Getting accused of not one, nor two, but three specifications of 120 is like a catastrophic eruption. I dealt with that well over a year ago. It was the worse day of my life talking to NCIS because I was naive thinking I knew what to do. I didn’t even ask for an attorney because I was like it’s my story right? Wrong they used that against me. Let me tell you I went three times like an idiot. They did a ton of stuff that was completely not right and shouldn’t have happened legally. With that I found myself a few months later facing a court martial at the end of the year. I tried to desperately find an attorney who would not only just listen and be there for me but not just burn us for my money only. I guess God had something waiting for us because a buddy who was facing a court martial that couldn’t afford a lawyer pointed me to Stephen. Bottom line let me tell you. He CARES. He works hard and he is like a one-man army. He fought relentlessly and showed such a phenomenal performance that raised so much doubt that it should’ve been an easy outcome. Unfortunately, we fell short but I will say that I went home to my family with just a discharge. With them charges I should’ve faced confinement, but it didn’t happen. If you find yourself in need of such a person. Stephen is the way to go. He’s like Matlock!!! Thank you so much Stephen for what you done for my family.
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air force Maj
Fairchild, WA
June 27, 2020 | Hired Attorney
120 Case Dropped
“Stephen did an outstanding job as counsel when I, an FGO, was facing a 120 charge and was under investigation. Unfortunately, in today’s political climate, any 120 accusations will most likely go to a CM, even if there is no probable cause, which happened in my scenario. You are guilty until proven innocent in the military unless you are headed for the courtroom. Justice is still served in the court room. Stephen and my military appointed defense counsel (which also did a phenomenal job) applied maximum pressure, and about 2 months out from the CM, the complaining witness issued a non-participation letter due to inconsistencies in her stories, the interviewing of named witnesses by the complaining witness, and contradictions in medical records and what was reported. The case was dropped, but Stephen offered to stay on board pro-bono should a Board of Inquiry occur, which ended up not happening. I am thankful for Stephen’s outstanding support, and his vast experience. His expertise and experience allowed my team to forecast potential directions, paths, and also bring on experts that would have crushed the complaining witness and the government’s case. Leaders are more concerned about their self-preservation and the next rank, rather than standing up and doing what’s right, even if that means facing criticism. Stephen stands up for you when a situation like this occurs.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army SPC
Germany
September 12, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Criminal case dropped
“I was facing a court martial after some extremely serious false accusations were levied against me. I had been extended involuntarily beyond my original end of service date for a minimum of 6 months, pending my court martial. I had hired Stephen early on in this whole process, and he handled everything flawlessly. I was in the know at all relevant times. And, shortly after eclipsing my original end of service date, Stephen was the first to notify me that the case was being dropped and I would be allowed to separate honorably without ever having to face a court martial. Saved my career and everything I had earned. If you’re still browsing for a military attorney at a reasonable rate, no need. This man can walk the walk.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Navy LCDR
Bremerton, WA
January 20, 2020 | Hired Attorney
The Best Defense Attorney
“The best attorney that you can hire. Mr. Carpenter was not the first attorney I contacted, I had consulted with two previously, but I knew from the start that he was the one that would best represent me. Both Mr. Carpenter and Jason Green worked on my case. I first hired him when I was facing a field grade Article 15. We had multiple conference calls to weigh the options of accepting or turning it down. I faced losing my rank over a misunderstanding. Ultimately, I turned down the Article 15 and it was preferred to a Summary Court Martial. When the trial date came, Mr. Carpenter and Jason Greene did a phenomenal job defending me. We had the advantage of not having a Trial Counsel (prosecutor) present. Closing arguments are a very powerful tool that, when used effectively, can tip the scale into one side’s favor. For the sake of time, trial had taken all day, Mr. Carpenter’s closing argument was brief. However, it had conveyed a very powerful message to not just the SCMO, but to everyone in the courtroom, myself included. A message that was expanded on the next day. The following day, he submitted his written argument. Mr. Carpenter did an outstanding job at highlighting the flaws of the case. Both his closing and written argument gave me confidence that I had made the right choice. In the end, it resulted in an acquittal of both charges. If you find yourself as a defendant in the military justice system, Stephen Carpenter is the best civilian defense attorney you can hire. His reputation speaks for itself, both in the courtroom and out.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Army SSG
Fort Hood, Texas
August 7, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Fort Hood court martial Win
“Mr. Carpenter came to my rescue after I had exhausted all the JAGs had to offer me. He fought for my life and my career. He was very professional and passionate in the courtroom, and gave his all, so that in the end we came out on the winning side. After facing over seven charges the prosecutors dropped five of them once they realized I had a civilian lawyer who was dedicated and had such great experience. I was able to receive an Honorable Discharge and keep all my benefits.”
General Court-Martial
Sexual Assault
Air Force TSgt
JBLM, WA
May 14, 2014
Not Guilty of All Charges
“When I came under investigation for sexual assault I knew that I was going to need above satisfactory representation in the event I was charged and Court-Martialed. After days of researching, Mr. Carpenter was the attorney at the top of the list to hire. No more than one hour after I sent him an email explaining my situation, he called and discussed it with me. The shocking thing to me was that it was at 11pm PST. He immediately called the CID office and informed me that he was representing me and that they were not to contact me in any way, shape or form. Once my Brigade Commander preferred charges, Steve never stopped. He kept me informed of everything that was going on and was always available for questions or concerns that I had. I never thought that I would feel comfortable in a court room, but with how well Mr. Carpenter prepared the case, I was at ease. Watching him in argue the case on my behalf was the most moving and impressive thing I have ever seen. He is truly passionate and believed in my case. Because of Mr. Carpenter I was able to proceed with my life free of any legal issues. I was found not guilty of all charges because of Mr. Carpenter’s dedication and knowledge of military law. I recommend Steve Carpenter to anyone with Military UCMJ issues. It was the best decision I have ever made concerning my wellbeing.”