Practice Areas
Investigation Advice and Counsel
When you are notified that you are under investigation, what you do in the first hours and days can determine the outcome of your case. Military Defender represents servicemembers at every stage of the investigative process, from the moment CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS makes contact through the conclusion of any resulting proceedings. Attorney Stackhouse advises clients on their Article 31(b) rights, guides them through formal and informal questioning, and works to shape the investigation before charges are ever preferred. Early intervention is not a luxury; it is a strategy. Whether you face allegations of sexual assault, financial crimes, drug offenses, or any other UCMJ violation, retaining counsel immediately protects your rights, your record, and your career.
Court-martial Defense
A court-martial is one of the most serious legal proceedings a person can face, carrying consequences that include federal conviction, punitive discharge, confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a permanent mark that follows a servicemember long after the uniform comes off. Military Defender defends officers and enlisted servicemembers at all three levels of court-martial, from a Summary Court-Martial through a General Court-Martial, across all branches of the armed forces. Attorney Stackhouse prepares every case for trial from day one, challenging the government's evidence, holding investigators and prosecutors to the full demands of the Military Rules of Evidence, and presenting a defense built on the specific facts of your case. If you or someone you know has been charged or is under investigation for a UCMJ offense, contact Military Defender today for a confidential consultation.
Administrative Separation / Board of Inquiry
Not every military legal battle takes place in a courtroom, but the consequences of losing one outside of it can be just as permanent. Boards of Inquiry and administrative separation proceedings can strip an officer of their commission, result in an other-than-honorable discharge, and eliminate years of retirement benefits built through honorable service. Military Defender represents officers facing BOIs and enlisted servicemembers facing administrative separation boards, building a complete record, challenging the government's case, and presenting the full context of a servicemember's career and character to the board. These proceedings move quickly, and the window to prepare an effective defense is short. If you have received notification of a BOI or administrative separation action, contact Military Defender today for a confidential consultation before that window closes.
Federal Criminal Defense
Federal criminal charges demand a defender with the experience and credentials to match the resources of the United States government. Military Defender represents clients facing federal criminal prosecution in North Carolina, Washington D.C., Colorado, and Wyoming, handling matters ranging from white-collar offenses and fraud to charges arising from or connected to military service. Attorney Stackhouse is licensed to practice in each of those jurisdictions and brings the same disciplined, evidence-focused approach to federal court that he applies in military proceedings. Please note that Military Defender is not licensed to practice California state or federal criminal law; California representation is limited to military justice and security clearance matters. If you are facing federal criminal charges in one of the firm's licensed jurisdictions, contact Military Defender today for a confidential consultation.
Security Clearance Appeals
A security clearance denial or revocation can end a career in an instant, foreclosing federal employment, defense contractor positions, and decades of professional opportunity built on honorable service. Military Defender represents applicants and current clearance holders challenging adverse actions before the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, from the initial Statement of Reasons through the formal hearing before an Administrative Judge and any subsequent appeal to the Personnel Security Appeals Board. Attorney Stackhouse understands the adjudicative guidelines that govern clearance decisions, knows how to address the government's specific concerns with targeted mitigation evidence, and presents a complete, credible record on behalf of every client. A denial or revocation is not the end of the road, but the response must be thorough, timely, and strategically sound. If your clearance has been denied or revoked, contact Military Defender today for a confidential consultation.
Record Correction / Discharge Review
An adverse discharge characterization or an error in a military record does not have to be permanent. Military Defender represents veterans and servicemembers before the Discharge Review Boards and the record correction boards of each branch, including the Board for Correction of Naval Records and the Board for Correction of Military Records, seeking upgraded discharges, removal of erroneous or unjust entries, and restoration of benefits that should never have been lost. Attorney Stackhouse builds each petition on the complete record of a servicemember's service, assembles the evidence and legal argument necessary to meet each board's standard, and knows how to frame a case that speaks to the equities as well as the law. These boards are the last administrative remedy available to many veterans, and a well-constructed petition can mean the difference between an other-than-honorable discharge that closes doors and an honorable characterization that opens them. If you believe your discharge was unjust or your military record contains errors that have gone uncorrected, contact Military Defender today for a confidential consultation.
Military Defense Lawyer
About Stackhouse Law Firm, Ltd.
An adverse discharge characterization or an error in a military record does not have to be permanent. Military Defender represents veterans and servicemembers before the Discharge Review Boards and the record correction boards of each branch, including the Board for Correction of Naval Records and the Board for Correction of Military Records, seeking upgraded discharges, removal of erroneous or unjust entries, and restoration of benefits that should never have been lost. Attorney Stackhouse builds each petition on the complete record of a servicemember's service, assembles the evidence and legal argument necessary to meet each board's standard, and knows how to frame a case that speaks to the equities as well as the law. These boards are the last administrative remedy available to many veterans, and a well-constructed petition can mean the difference between an other-than-honorable discharge that closes doors and an honorable characterization that opens them. If you believe your discharge was unjust or your military record contains errors that have gone uncorrected, contact Military Defender today for a confidential consultation.
Military Defense Legal Team
Meet the team
Phillip Stackhouse is the firm founder. Mr. Stackhouse started his private practice in 2006 after retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps after serving 22 years. His time in the Marines included nearly 9 years of enlisted service, a tour as an Infantry Officer, and he retired as a judge advocate. He's tried cases across the country and around the globe in military courts and federal courts for offenses including war crimes, murder, espionage, child sex abuse materials, sexual assault, money laundering, and many others.
Notable Cases
Here are some example Case Results. Because each case is different, these results do not indicate future results in different cases.
Senior Special Forces Officer charged with premeditated murder. After extensive investigation and pretrial litigation and public relations work to correct the public record, our client received a Presidential Pardon and, without invoking the power of the pardon, the Army dismissed all charges.
Senior Enlisted Raider (MARSOC) accused of, among other things, causing the death of a retired Special Forces soldier. After a 2-week jury trial, our client was acquitted of all serious charges and only convicted of what he testified to during the trial: having a drink in Erbil, Iraq, on New Year's Eve while on liberty with others. The jury imposed no punishment, and our client retired honorably in grade. The minor conviction is on appeal.
Marine Special Operations Command Staff Non-commissioned Officer client accused of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and aggravated assault. Resulted in charges being dismissed after the Article 32 Preliminary Hearing.
Special Forces Officer client was investigated for order violations and not properly protecting classified material. The matter was resolved, no charges were filed, and retirement was secured.
Navy Lieutenant client accused of raping and sexually assaulting a female Navy Lieutenant. After a contested jury trial, the client was found not guilty.
Marine Sergeant client was accused of sexually assaulting and sodomizing a young child and later making admissions to the conduct. After a contested jury trial, the jury found the confession to be false, and the client was found not guilty.
Marine Corporal client accused of possessing child pornography and solicitation. The client refused to negotiate a pretrial agreement because his rights were violated during the investigation. Pretrial motions were denied, and the client was convicted of some offenses. Later, the entire case was overturned on appeal based on the pretrial motions that set the stage for the appeal.
Marine Sergeant Major charged in Federal Court with Possession of Child Pornography. Negotiated a favorable plea agreement and then convinced the Federal Judge to substantially depart (over a two-year reduction) from the bottom of the sentencing guideline range.
Three Marine co-defendants were accused of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Charges were dismissed after a multi-day Article 32 Preliminary Hearing. Later, one of the Co-accused was awarded the Bronze Star with a Combat Distinguishing Device, and one has since retired honorably.
Senior Staff Non-commissioned Officer client was charged in federal court with a substantial larceny of government property from Iraq. Negotiated a favorable plea agreement and obtained a downward departure from the bottom of the sentencing guideline range. Served his time in a camp near his family.
Senior Staff Non-commissioned Officer (Staff NCO) client was accused of indecent acts with a child, false statements, and assault of a child. After a contested jury trial, there were mixed findings. No Discharge, No Confinement.
Senior Staff Non-commissioned Officer (Staff NCO) client was charged with substantial larceny and conspiracy. No Discharge, No Confinement
Senior Officer client was charged in federal court with bribery and gratuities from Iraq. Negotiated a favorable plea agreement. Served less than 12 months in a federal camp.
Officer Board of Inquiry for prior Article 15 (NJP), dereliction of duty, and disrespect. Case closed, the officer continued to serve on active duty.
Officer charged with dereliction of duty in the accidental killing of a Marine. Charges Dismissed.
Noncommissioned Officer client was charged with dereliction of duty for failing to stop another from driving while intoxicated. There was a jury trial, and the client was found not guilty.
Former Marine with a Purple Heart was charged in state court with felony assault by strangulation. There was a jury trial, and the client was found not guilty.
Officer was charged with negligent homicide and DWI resulting in injury. Facing four and one-half years of jail and overwhelming evidence, we negotiated a resolution allowing for a Jury to sentence the officer. After presenting our case in mitigation, the jury awarded no confinement.
Noncommissioned Officer client was charged with escaping custody of CID and going AWOL terminated by apprehension. After arguing that our client’s constitutional rights were violated, the judge dismissed all charges.
Chief Warrant Officer client was charged with Larceny of thousands of dollars, False Statements, and Conduct Unbecoming. Charges Dismissed after Article 32.
Senior Officer at Board of Inquiry for assault and disrespect resulted in an Honorable Discharge.
Officer client was charged with inappropriate relationships, indecent acts, false statements, and obstruction of justice. The client pleaded guilty without a deal at a General Court-martial and was facing years of jail; after presenting our case in mitigation to the jury, the jury awarded no confinement.
Junior Enlisted client was charged with Rape. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict.
Noncommissioned Officer client was charged with several larcenies (for the second time) and faced five years in prison. The charges were dismissed.
Junior Enlisted client was charged with drug use. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict.
Noncommissioned Officer client was charged with rape. After an Article 32 preliminary hearing, the charges were dismissed.
Noncommissioned Officer Client was charged with Rape. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict.
Junior Enlisted client was charged with drug use. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict.
Officer Board of Inquiry for child abuse substantiated by the Command and Family Advocacy. After cross-examination of the witnesses and our client testifying, the board found that no misconduct was substantiated, and the case was closed.
Petty Officer client was charged with Espionage, Failing to Safeguard Classified Information, Wrongfully Disclosing Classified Information, and other charges. We negotiated a resolution that resulted in the client's release from confinement in less than 10 years.
Noncommissioned Officer client was past the end of his contract and charged with Rape and Adultery. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict of all serious charges, guilty of adultery. Our client received an Honorable Discharge.
Noncommissioned Officer client was charged with Rape, Indecent Sexual Assault, and Adultery. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict of Rape and Indecent Sexual Assault charges. Sentence for the minor charge of adultery resulted in less punishment (jail) than already serviced. Our client was allowed to re-enlist.
Junior Enlisted client was charged with Violating Orders, Escaping Custody, Resisting Arrest, Domestic Assault, Aggravated Assault, and making Death Threats. Tried before a judge alone. While our client was found guilty, he was released from confinement the day the trial ended.
Noncommissioned Officer Client was charged with distributing cocaine and ecstasy (on and off base), possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and carrying a concealed weapon. Tried before a judge alone. While our client was found guilty, he was released from confinement in less than 1 year, which was far less than the pretrial offer.
Junior Enlisted client was charged with multiple uses and possessions of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of steroids. Tried before a judge alone. While our client was found guilty, he was released from confinement in less than 1 year, which was far less than the pretrial offer.
Post-conviction client was eligible for parole. After we filed a parole and clemency petition, our client was released after only eight months in prison, and his discharge was upgraded from a Dishonorable Discharge to a Bad Conduct Discharge. The conviction was for the use, possession, and distribution of controlled substances in a combat zone.
Noncommissioned Officer client was accused of misbehavior before the enemy, solicitation to commit misbehavior before the enemy, dereliction of duty, and three counts of reckless endangerment while in Iraq — facing life without parole. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict of all serious charges. After presenting our case in mitigation to the jury, our client was reduced in rank and given restriction with extra duties. No Discharge, No confinement. Our client later received an honorable discharge.
Junior Officer charged with, among other things, two counts of premeditated murder and desecration of dead bodies while serving as an infantry platoon commander in Iraq. Charges were dismissed after a week-long Article 32 Pretrial Investigation.
Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) client charged with killing a Romanian pop star while driving in Bucharest, Romania. We conducted our own investigation in Romania, discovering several issues that led to the crash that exonerated our client. Tried before a jury, resulting in a not guilty verdict of all serious charges, guilty of adultery, and received a letter of reprimand. Our client received an Honorable Discharge.