One great inequity that's now apparent, imho, is the disparity in budgets. The prosecutors and NCIS apparently have limitless, gov't financed budgets. This seems unfair to me in that, as opposed to the civilian world, the congressionally mandated UCMJ REQUIRES defense of accused soldiers as well as prosecution. They REQUIRE a defense counsel be appointed as part of the UCMJ process. They should, therefore, also require EQUAL expenditures for both defense and prosecution, since both are under the auspices of the very same military.
I know, Chaplain; but I still wish he could. :^)
I wonder if it’s possible for a Congressional Committee to hold hearings on this, and possibly add revision to the UCMJ to allow for recovery of a part of any expended funds of those defending themselves of such egregious charges. While I have no doubt of the funding intent, I think it’s been shown in what little has been released that there is a latitude given by the court to defense expenditures. And while we all would agree that both the prosecuting and defending JAGs are working to the best of their abilities, we all know from past experience that politics and self-preservation of career does play a role.
Doubt it will happen, but I would like to see an accounting of the costs involved for all of these cases for both prosecution and defense separately.
Well... That assumes they aren't as lame of JAGs as Senator Lindsay Graham musta been!!!