Case Results

Full acquittals in drug/urinalysis court-martial cases: 100%.

Won acquittal on at least some charges in 71% of contested trials overall.

Enlisted Administrative Separation Boards (Adsep Boards): 89%. Won retention in 8 of last 9 enlisted administrative separation boards.

Travelled to Juneau, Valdez, and Anchorage, Alaska, to win the Coast Guard’s first full acquittal for sexual assault in a contested trial in years. Won despite Government claiming to have a confession from the client, by expertly utilizing forensic psychiatrist expert witness and identifying key witness Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and prosecutors had missed.

Defended client accused of multiple counts of attempted murder of a child. Won acquittals on all attempted murder charges, resulting in client only being convicted of assault on a child and going from facing life without parole to only receiving a 7-year sentence.

Won a high-profile trial for a Navy SEAL accused of violent rape, aggravated assault, and numerous other crimes. Was brought onto this case to salvage it from counsel who were floundering, and succeeded in getting client acquitted of all serious charges. The complaining witness was discredited, and he was only convicted of two minor charges based on his own statements, one of which was overturned later on appeal and the other of which is pending appeal.

Successfully revitalized Article 10 of the UCMJ by asserting the speedy trial rights of a Coast Guard client held unlawfully in pretrial confinement. The legal issue we raised was named one of the Top 10 stories of the year in military justice.

Officer Boards of Inquiry (BOI): 100%. Went undefeated in boards of inquiry, winning retention for every single officer client who was taken before a board (11/11).

Had all charges dismissed for a Navy senior chief accused, along with a master chief, of sexual assault.

Won dismissal of all charges for an officer falsely accused of sexual assault, rape, conduct unbecoming, and fraternization. Overcame unlawful command influence of powerful Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and went toe-to-toe with the high-powered Washington DC law firm representing the complaining witness. Ultimately, won a motion striking down the Article 32 rules put out by the Secretary of the Navy himself, and got the case dismissed on the eve of trial through our own investigation that proved the complaining witness had lied. Then won a unanimous 3-0 no basis vote at the Board of Inquiry, fully exonerating this officer client.

Won full acquittal for a Navy Diver accused of sexual assault, cross-examining two of the most hostile complaining witnesses ever to appear in a Navy courtroom.

Won full acquittal in a joint trial for a Sailor accused of raping a woman along with another Sailor. Both Sailors were fully acquitted in the joint trial.

Won recommendation that homicide charges against an O-4 in Afghanistan be dismissed, then succeeded in negotiating case to NJP. Officer now has no convictions on his record, was promoted to O-5, and was allowed to continue to serve, where he will eventually retire in-grade.

Won an honorable discharge for a Navy SEAL who was jailed for months by the state of Virginia after a drunken bar fight in which he severely injured a civilian.

Enlisted Administrative Separation Boards (Adsep Boards): 75%. Won no basis in 75% of enlisted administrative separation boards, including three positive urinalysis cases for THC, prescription drugs and cocaine in which the senior enlisted client had close to 20 years, saving millions of dollars for each client in retirement money.

Supervisors rated Mike Hanzel the #1 Lieutenant of all Navy Defense Counsel in the Western half of the United States.

Represented a Navy Commander at a BOI where he was accused of abusive sexual contact and sexual harassment by three separate women and won a no basis, saving his career and allowing him to continue to serve honorably with his record cleared.

Won no jail time for a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer convicted of cruelty and maltreatment of a subordinate.

Won no punishment for a Newport News, VA, Sailor convicted at court-martial for an orders violation. Won acquittal on all domestic violence charges for that Sailor.

1. Won against-the-odds BOI for an XO accused of misconduct by multiple people while on deployment. 2. Won against-the-odds BOI for senior O-6 Medical Officer accused of personal misconduct, allowing him to finish his career on his own terms with honor and save lives in the service of the Navy.

Won full acquittal for Gunner’s Mate accused of sexual assault while on liberty in Jacksonville, FL.