COLD BLUE STEEL FOR SERVICE MEMBERS & FAMILIES
Case lessons, policy updates and research explainers on military justice.
Article 31 & counsel
Worried that asking for a lawyer will make you look guilty? Article 31's warning requirement already concerns an accused or suspected person. In Harrington's case, a confession following warnings and a voluntary waiver became key evidence for a murder conviction. The appellate court later dismissed the murder charge for insufficient evidence. The lesson: consult defense counsel before answering.
Cold Blue Steel article
Special trial counsel
A plain-language explanation of special trial counsel, covered offenses, command input, deferral and the dates that determine prosecution authority.
Cold Blue Steel article
Special trial counsel
The court addressed referral authority after special trial counsel declined and deferred a covered-offense matter, holding that the convening authority could refer different, non-covered offenses based on the same conduct.
Primary source · CAAF
Factual sufficiency
The court explained the specific showing needed to trigger Article 66 factual-sufficiency review and the scope of a service court’s review once that threshold is met.
Primary source · CAAF
Victims’ counsel
The court held that eligibility for victims’ legal counsel under 10 U.S.C. § 1044e continued when the reporting person was questioned about allegedly false sexual-abuse and harassment reports, but the statute itself provided no suppression remedy.
Primary source · CAAF
Security clearances
DCSA described a 45-day period during which continuous vetting continues after loss of a Security Management Office relationship in DISS. Status changes to unenrolled if no active relationship is established during that period.
Primary source · DCSA
Dates identify when an article was published or a source was issued. Check current MCM publications and subsequent authority. Proposed rules are not operative law.