US Army JAG Officer, Major Jacob S. Gunter, has been in the service for 15 plus years. He was deployed once and has been OCONUS six other times. As reserve component Army Officer, he has spent the last 15 years honing his trial skills in the courtroom representing people accused of crimes or in need of advocacy. His current position is commander of the 653rd Trial Defense Services defending National Guard Soldiers across Utah, Idaho and Montana. Call/TXT Jake at (801) 373-6345.
WHY HIRE A CIVILIAN DEFENSE COUNSEL IN ADDITION TO YOUR COURT APPOINTED TRIAL DEFENSE COUNSEL? Courtroom Experience, That’s Why.
When it comes to courtroom experience, civilian criminal defense attorneys simply have more experience than the Army Captain JAG officer pulling a 2 year tour as TDS. Army JAGs may rotate through Trial Counsel for two years prosecuting Courts-Martials and then move for another one year on TDS. Three years combined experience in the courtroom is not comparable to civilian criminal defense attorneys who spend a career defending the accused.
The best approach is to continue with your military court appointed TDS defense lawyer and then hire a civilian, military criminal defense lawyer to conduct the actual trial. Cross-examination is a skill that is like shooting weapons or running for the APFT test—it is perishable unless used constantly. The same goes for being a good criminal defense attorney, it takes time and thousands of hours in the courtroom under your belt.
Criminal defense attorney Jake Gunter has tried 30 jury trials as the lead defense attorney and many others as the secondary (not primary lead) defense counsel. He has over 2,000 court appearances under his belt advocating for people in need or accused of crimes. Couple this experience with over 200 bench or evidentiary hearings.
Let his experience help you. Your military career is too hard and long to be cut short by poor, overhyped charges.
COMMON UTAH MILITARY LEGAL SERVICES:
(1). Courts-Martial. Summary, General and Specials Courts-Martials.
(2). Separation Boards. Are you an officer facing a separation board late in your career? Have you not reached sanctuary and the armed services is seeking to discharge you prior to obtaining your 20 year retirement? This is the time to hire an effective, aggressive advocate.
(3). GOMOR Defense. General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand Defense Services. Get your best advocacy to obtain local files rather than your permanent file that will cost you your career.
(4). Rank Reduction Boards. Earning that E-7 stripe matters and so does making field grade. Having an effective advocate can make the difference at the board hearing.
Call Utah criminal defense attorney Jake Gunter for a free consultation at (801) 373-6345.