Tag: court-martial defense lawyer

Military Lawyer Helixon

Ten Baseball Lessons For Military Lawyers

Military litigators, including court-martial defense lawyers, can apply lessons from baseball to their practice to become better lawyers and advocates.

[In June, 2014, after nearly eighteen years of active duty in the U.S. Army, I resigned from active duty and entered the U.S. Army Reserves.  The SJA at Joint Base Lewis McChord afforded me the opportunity to address the Soldiers as I transitioned to the Reserves, and this blog entry is derived from that speech.]

My grandfather, Raymond, was an imposing man standing well over six feet tall.  Even in the waning years of his life, his physical strength was unmatched.  A natural athlete, grandpa lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track in college at the University of Wisconsin River Falls (formerly River Falls Teacher’s College) from 1931-34 – his best sport was basketball and he was captain of the team, but it was baseball that he pursued.  His dad, my great-grandfather managed a semi-pro baseball team in Marshfield, Wisconsin, winning the league championship in 1934.

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False Reports of Sexual Assault meets “Always believe the Victim”

It’s Time to Advocate for the Accused:  The Pendulum has Swung too Far in Prosecuting Sexual Assault Cases in the Military

 As I have written before, sexual assault is a heinous crime.  The military and society should ensure that every sexual offender faces justice, and every victim of this crime is provided the necessary support to overcome the consequences of its brutality.  Even the court-martial defense lawyers would agree that those who are guilty of sexual assault should be held accountable.  However, in the zeal to respond to the perceived sexual assault “crisis,” the military cannot disassemble the protections against wrongful convictions, and cannot ignore that false reports of sexual assault must be guarded against.  Advocacy for victims must not trample on the rights of the accused.  A thorough reading of the Constitution reveals no reference to “victims” while at the same time providing protections of the rights of the Accused in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th & 14th Amendments – these protections are to guard against wrongful convictions.

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Military Lawyer, Dad

A Life of Its Own: The Effort to Combat Sexual Assault in the Military and its Intended (and Unintended) Consequences – Thoughts of a Court-Martial Defense Lawyer

Sexual assault is a vile, horrific and unconscionable act of violence — there are few crimes that evoke as much emotion and outrage — and efforts the eradicate it from the military have swept the nation, with the President, Vice-President, Congress and military leaders all joining the bandwagon of reform to prevent it and hold perpetrators accountable.  Laudable goals that I think have gone too far.  I will start with a little background.

After duty as a civilian defense counsel (CDC), trial counsel (TC), senior defense counsel (SDC) and brigade judge advocate (BJA), in August 2008, I assumed the duties as Chief of the Defense Counsel Assistance Program (DCAP) in the United States Army.  My primary duties were to coordinate litigation training for all the criminal defense lawyers (U.S. Army Trial Defense Service) in the U.S. Army, both active duty, and reserves.  One of the first meetings I attended as Chief of DCAP involved how the U.S. Army JAG Corps was going to address the perceived crisis surrounding sexual assault in the military.  Also at this meeting was the Chief of the Trial Counsel Assistance Program (TCAP), members of the trial judiciary, representatives from the Office of The Judge Advocate General’s (OTJAG) Criminal Law Division and several other military justice elders in the JAG Corps.  In no uncertain terms, the message was that the Secretary of the Army wanted us to address the issue of combating sexual assault and improving the prosecution of such cases — it was clear that there was money to be spent and that if we did not correct the perceived problem internally, Congress would “fix it.” Continue reading “A Life of Its Own: The Effort to Combat Sexual Assault in the Military and its Intended (and Unintended) Consequences – Thoughts of a Court-Martial Defense Lawyer”

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The Texas Bar College Welcomes New Member – Court-Martial Defense Lawyer Will M. Helixon

Will M. Helixon’s commitment to continuing legal education was recognized by membership in the Texas Bar College. 

 

Download the PDF Press Release here.

The Texas Bar College congratulates Will M. Helixon on his recent membership in the College.

 

The Texas Bar College, the only organization in the United States formed for this purpose, is an honorary society of lawyers, chartered by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1981, to recognize and encourage lawyers who maintain and enhance their professional skills and the quality of their service to the public by completing at least double the required hours of continuing legal education each year. The College also sponsors or otherwise assists in educational activities of significant merit and widespread relevance and applicability to the legal profession.

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Law Office of Will M. Helixon Announces Formation of New “Personal Affairs” Practice

PRESS RELEASE – FEB 1, 2016

Download the PDF Press Release here.

Will M. Helixon forms a modern “Personal Affairs” legal practice,
focusing on protecting individuals’ freedom, their family & longterm
financial security.

 

Will M. Helixon announces the formation of the Law Office of Will M. Helixon, a modern legal practice focusing on soldiers’ and civilians’ personal affairs, including world-wide court-martial defense, military adverse administrative action defense, Kansas and Texas state felony criminal defense, defending families from the consequences of domestic violence and child abuse, and protecting hard-earned retirement by defending investors’ rights.

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