Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

Our team of attorneys strive to provide expert legal advice to our Soldiers, family members, retirees, and other eligible clients in confronting legal issues that arise in every day life. Our goal is to be the legal choice for Soldiers with respect to their most challenging legal issues, most significant business transactions and most critical disputes.

Visit our page by clicking HERE.

Among the Army’s efforts to combat sexual assault in the ranks, the Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC) Program was developed to strengthen the support of victims of sexual assault and enhance their rights within our military justice system, while neither causing unreasonable delay nor infringing upon the rights of an accused. Through the SVC program, Soldiers, and their dependents over the age 18, who have been the victim of a sexual assault can request an Army lawyer dedicated to serving the victim by providing legal advice and representation throughout the military justice and legal administrative process.

SVC are legal assistance attorneys who have received special training and are designated by The Judge Advocate General to serve as a SVC.SVC will provide zealous representation to clients. Constrained only by ethical limits, SVCs shall represent the best interests of their clients as appropriate even when their client’s interest do not align with those of the government of the United States. A SVC’s primary duty is to his/her client and no other person, organization or entity.

If you have any questions or are in need of a Special Victims’ Counsel, please call the Legal Assistance Office at (573) 596‐0629 or visit Bldg 315, Room 118.

The mission of the Administrative Law Division (ALD) is to provide accurate and timely legal advice to the command; provide legal oversight in specialized areas such as environmental, labor, ethics, FOIA, and contract law; and brief investigating officers (ROS, AR 15‐6, Art 32, LOD) and review investigations for legal sufficiency.

Below is a list of some of the services provided by the ALD:

• Provide legal reviews of Financial Liability Investigation of Property Loss (FLIPL) (formerly known as a Report of Survey)
• Provide legal reviews of Line of Duty investigations
• Provide legal reviews of AR 15‐6 investigations
• Provide legal reviews of Constitution and Bylaws
• Provide legal reviews of Administrative Separation Actions
• Advise AR 15‐6 investigating officers
• Advise Summary Courts‐Martial officers
• Advise Article 32 officers
• Provides legal representation to CRC and JMAA.
• Provides legal advice to staff personnel regarding all issues affecting installation command policies

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
(excluding federal holidays)

Telephone: (573) 596‐0626

“DEFENDING THOSE WHO DEFEND AMERICA”

The U.S. Army Trial Defense Service (TDS) is an independent entity that functions much like a public defender's office. To provide independent, competent, and ethical defense legal services to Soldiers worldwide, wherever located, as required by law or as authorized by The Judge Advocate General.

The TDS mission is to provide a full‐range of defense legal services to Soldiers serving in numerous commands worldwide. These services include:

• Representing Soldiers charged with military criminal offenses at trial
• Representing Soldiers during criminal investigations and before elimination or grade reduction boards
• Counseling Soldiers regarding pretrial restraint, nonjudicial punishment, and various adverse administrative actions taken pursuant to military regulations.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday through Friday 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.
(excluding training holidays)

Telephone: (573) 596‐0628

The Military Justice Division provides expert legal advice and regulatory guidance to all commanders and military law enforcement within MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood in order to help maintain good order and discipline. Legal support provided by the Military Justice Division includes, but is not limited to, the processing of all adverse administrative actions, preparation of Article 15s pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and prosecution of all Courts‐Martial on behalf of the command. The Military Justice Division also provides a Judge Advocate to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney who represents the United States in U.S. District Court.

The Division is augmented by a Special Victim Prosecutor and Special Victim Witness Liaison Officer with expertise in responding to, investigating and prosecuting special victim crimes, including sexual assault, child abuse, child sexual exploitation, and serious domestic violence.

“The purpose of military law is to promote justice, to assist in maintaining good order and discipline in the armed forces, to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the military establishment, and thereby to strengthen the national security of the United States.” (Preamble, Manual for Courts‐Martial (2012 Edition)).

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday through Friday 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.
(excluding federal and training holidays)

Telephone: (573) 596‐0630

United States Magistrate Court at Fort Leonard Wood is part of the United States Federal Court system for the Western District of Missouri. The court handles all U.S. District Court Violation Notices issued as a result of misconduct on the installation. U.S. District Court Violation Notices may be issued for traffic offenses committed by soldiers and civilians on Fort Leonard Wood, or to civilians who commit criminal offenses on Fort Leonard Wood. The Magistrate Court at Fort Leonard Wood does not handle Armed Forces Traffic Tickets.

All U.S. District Court Violation Notices are processed through the Central Violations Bureau (CVB). Questions about when your court date is, how you can pay your fine, or how you can update your contact information should be directed to the CVB. Please contact the CVB at 1‐800‐827‐2982, or visit https://www.cvb.uscourts.gov/.

If you received a citation on Fort Leonard Wood for a violation of state law, federal law, or installation regulation, the citation will indicate whether you have a mandatory court appearance.

If you fail to appear in court on the date and time ordered, the court may issue a summons ordering you to appear or issue a warrant for your arrest. If you are charged with a motor‐vehicle violation, the court may also report your failure to appear to your state’s driver’s license agency which can affect your driving privileges or your vehicle registration.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday through Friday 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.
(excluding federal and training holidays)

Telephone: (573) 596‐0676