Previous Law Firm Name

• Jeffrey Meeks

Law Firm Overview

I am an experienced attorney with 25 years of practice in military law. Operating out of San Diego, California, I am able to represent service members in all military jurisdictions world-wide, and at administrative discharge boards, boards of inquiry, medical discharge boards, physical evaluation boards. I also will also represent you at Boards of Correction of Military/Naval Records and the Discharge Review Boards.

Military Law is complex and specialized, and requires experience, understanding and skill to navigate. One of the most important decisions you make when a problem arises is "Who will fight for me?" Although you may be provided a military attorney to represent you, too often these young attorneys are at the beginning of their career and are learning the system by representing you. The time to act, and act with a clear understanding of the consequences is now. You need experienced, quality representation at all stages to preserve your rights, to make critical decisions, and to obtain the outcome possible under the circumstances.

I know the military justice system, and have dealt with the most difficult and complex cases for the last 25 years, including a Senior Military Judge. I know how to fight for your rights. This knowledge comes from:

--Senior Military Judge: In my last five years, I served as a judge in the Western Judicial Circuit of the Navy Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, and the Senior Judge over all cases occurring at Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-Nine Palms, and Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma. I presided over the most complex trials arising from Hamdaniyah, Haditha, and Fallujah, Iraq, as well as the hundreds of other serious cases that arose during that time period. I know how military courts operate. And I bring that knowledge to you.

--A Decade as a Military Defense Attorney: serving in the Marine Corps in Hawaii, Okinawa, Camp Lejeune and as the Regional Defense Counsel for the entire Eastern United States, I handled cases ranging from single specifications of Unauthorized Absences and Positive Drug results, through allegations of aggravated assault, rape, child physical and sexual abuse, child pornography and supply fraud, all the way to capital murder. I have represented Colonels (0-6), Master Gunnery Sergeants (E-9) all the way to the youngest Marine, Sailor or Soldier. I have saved the careers of people who were hopeless, have successfully facilitated removal of adverse administrative actions, and have seen Majors become Lieutenant Colonels, Staff Sergeants become Gunnery Sergeants, and Lance Corporals walk free from confinement. I know how to fight for you.

--A Prosecutor and Leader of Prosecutors: I have prosecuted all levels of cases during my service. In doing so, I have come to know how the "other side" works the goals and concerns of commanders who are bringing the charges; the strengths and weaknesses of prosecutors in the system; the techniques, methods and skills of the Investigative Agencies such as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. I can speak their language as we maneuver toward the goal that we set in this battle for your security.

--A Student and Teacher of the Military Law: Beyond the daily process of education that 25 years will bring, I have studied and received a Master of Law from the ABA certified LLM course at the Army Judge Advocate General School in Charlottesville, VA, with an emphasis in Military Law. I trained Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard attorneys at the Naval Justice School in the rules of evidence and the art of Trial Advocacy. I have continually been involved in the development of young litigators and I understand their strengths and weaknesses

Areas of Practice

• Military Law 50%
• Courts-Martial 50%

Honors and Awards

• Legion of Merit for Outstanding Service as Military Judge, 2004 - 2009
• Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Service as Law Center Director, 2001 - 2004
• Meritorious Service Medal as Regional Defense Counsel, East, 1999 - 2001
• Meritorious Service Medal as Instructor, Naval Justice School, 1991 - 1994
• Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal as Instructor, Naval Justice School, 1991
• Southwest Asia Service Medal for DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, 1990 - 1991
• Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), 1990 - 1991
• Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Kuwait), 1990 - 1991
• Joint Service Achievement Medal for Exercise Cobra Gold, 1990
• Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal as Defense Counsel, 1985 - 1988
• Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, 1995 - 2000

Classes and Seminars

• Instructor, Criminal Law Department, Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island

West Practice Categories

Military Law, Courts-Martial & Discharge, Military Justice