From the rigorous elements of the Marines to the intense courtrooms of Massachusetts, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Mary Ritzmann has crafted a career of leadership, dedication, and unparalleled legal acumen. As a Warrior AdvocateTM who knows and understands the struggles of being a successful warrior in today’s complicated environment, Mary is focused on serving Warrior ClientsTM.
Over three decades ago, she embarked on her journey as an enlisted Marine — a world where only the best thrives. Mary wasn’t just any enlisted Marine—she shone with unequaled potential. This led her to the grueling Marine Officer Candidate School in Quantico, where she didn’t just graduate—she seized the title of Honor Candidate, emerging at the top of her class.
Having completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina simultaneously with her service in the USMC Reserves, Mary then studied law at UNC’s prestigious School of Law. It was there that she found her true calling: litigation. Her zeal was so profound that she earned a coveted internship at the prestigious Cambridge Office of the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Massachusetts.
Opting for the challenging path of a public defender in Springfield, Mary’s relentless commitment to justice remained unwavering, even as she transitioned from the Marine Corps to the Massachusetts National Guard in 2000. She subsequently started mastering her craft as a military lawyer at the Army Judge Advocate School in 2001. Four days after graduating, with the ink still wet on her graduation certificate, the world pivoted on its axis, and Mary was called to active duty. By January of 2002, she was on active duty in Germany, and she never looked back.
For the last twenty-one years, Mary has been the unwavering voice of justice for Warriors, whether as a Trial Defense Counsel, a Legal Assistance attorney, or as a Senior Defense Counsel. Mary also gained valuable knowledge along the way as a “government” attorney, concluding in her position as a Command Judge Advocate, before retiring from the U.S Army in early 2023, capping 30-years of military service.
Mary’s experience isn’t merely bound to the military; she’s been an influential figure in the civilian legal sector since 2003, with a boutique law practice offering guidance to Warriors, family members, and DA civilian employees on complicated family law and adverse administrative actions. Her fluency in German further solidifies her unmatched competence in handling legal matters in Germany.
Beyond the courtroom, Mary is a force to be reckoned with. But what makes her truly without equal is her exceptional perspective. As a mother to five German children and a fervent supporter of numerous refugee families in the Schweinfurt area, she has continuously pushed the envelope. Dedicating herself to understanding her adopted environment in Germany since coming off active duty, she has been an active participant in immigration and integration politics in Bavaria since 2009 as a founding member of the Integration Council of Schweinfurt. Working through the Integration Council, she has been instrumental in reshaping immigration politics. Her unwavering commitment is evident in her recent efforts including establishing a German course for Ukrainian refugees.
With Mary, Warrior ClientsTM don’t just find a military lawyer. Instead, they find a seasoned Warrior AdvocateTM, who is a relentless advocate and a peerless authority on local legal matters, especially for cases involving German institutional intricacies. When you’re navigating complex military justice and adverse administrative actions involving the complicated layers of German police, municipal, military, or judicial authorities—Mary Ritzmann isn’t just a military lawyer, she’s your unmatched ally.
Our Warrior AdvocatesTM defend Warrior ClientsTM in military justice matters including courts-martial ranging from premeditated murder to rape and sexual assault, from BAH fraud to DUI and drug offense, and military offenses from maltreatment of subordinates and sexual harassment to violating lawful orders and insubordination. Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also represent Warrior ClientsTM pending law enforcement investigations, at administrative boards and non-judicial punishment hearings, and in involuntary separations and “chapter” actions alleging misconduct.
