I hired Mr. Carpenter as lead counsel for my court martial and then again later for a separation board. I was faced with very serious charges during my court martial and later, at my separation board, there were more than enough reasons to discharge me from the service. Despite all of this, both even...ts ended up with excellent results. I was guilty of the offenses that I was charged with and I was punished for them, however I was still retained in the military and currently I am advancing back through the ranks. This would have never been possible without the help of Mr. Carpenter. I was lucky enough to have been assigned very good TDS lawyers, but I know if I hadn't hired Mr. Carpenter I would have never been retained in the military and would also have many more convictions on my record. Like most people, I was completely lost when both of these legal proceedings were imposed on me. I had no idea what to expect or how to prepare for them. This is what the TDS lawyers are supposed to be for, however they are not always the right fit for their clients. For my court martial, the TDS lawyer assigned to me was stationed on the other side of the country and he was over worked with other cases, so contact with him was minimal. Later, when I was recommended for a separation board, I met with the TDS lawyer, assigned to me, about 6 weeks prior to my board. After that meeting he told me that he would be in contact with me once it got closer to the date of the board. I did not hear from him again. Then only few days before my board I received a call from another TDS lawyer, saying that he was now going to represent me. Luckily, on both occasions, I had hired Mr. Carpenter early on and he was there throughout each process to advise me on what to do and to keep me updated on what was happening. Mr. Carpenter is an exceptional defense lawyer that pulls from his vast knowledge of military law and experience to ensure his clients receive the best defense. He never treated me as just a client, but more like a friend in need. I believe that this trait is rare when it comes to lawyers. It made me feel confident knowing that he was not taking a halfhearted approach to my case. I hope my point is clear. Mr. Carpenter is one of the best lawyers that you can hire to represent you. I have over 10 years in the military and it all would have been for nothing if it hadn’t been for Mr. Carpenter.

We can not express how grateful we are to Mr Carpenter. After my husband was charged with 9 counts, including rape, sexual assault, and adultery we felt our lives were over. Mr Carpenter started working right away and was able to reduce the number of charges to 7. After an 11 month long, intense batt...le my husband was found not guilt of all rape, and sexual assault charges. Stephen is very knowledgeable, provides outstanding legal advise, and truly cares for his clients. He works long hours, always kept us informed and was always there for my husband. Watching Mr Carpenter in the court room is truly amazing. He is definitely the lawyer to have by your side if you are facing a court martial where the outcome could be life in prison. Again, thank you Stephen! God bless you.

We were so lucky to find Stephen Carpenter as our private, civilian military lawyer to represent my husband in his request for clemency. My husband was wrongfully convicted for a one time positive urinalysis for drug use. Stephen worked hard in our case and he was successful. He is very knowledg...eable, professional, respectful, honest, and approachable. In tough situations like ours when the loved one went to prison for a crime he did not commit, you want to choose someone who stands up for you and who ensures that everything is done correctly and your rights are protected. I recommend Stephen Carpenter as one of the strongest, most reliable civilian-military lawyers. He knows the law and its application in military system.

My attorney, Stephen Carpenter, saved my life. I have 15 years of service in the military and was given a GOMOR, which is a “career killer” for military officers. I felt that the GOMOR was unfair and should not have gone into my OMPF records, but it did and there was nothing I could do about it. T...hen, while deployed, I was notified that the Human Recourses Command (HRC) was considering me for separation from the military due to the draw-down of personnel. That means that I was getting kicked out with no benefits and no pension. I have a wife and three children. I was mortified. I was sent back to the US to face involuntary separation from service with NO options to fight it. I called every lawyer in town and chose Mr. Carpenter because of his honesty about what I was facing and his vast knowledge of military law. I was told by my Battalion Commander that I was not eligible for a “Show Cause Board” where I could try to fight this action. Stephen proved her to be wrong. He got HRC to agree to a board and then he proved my innocence at that board. He was unrelenting and would not let them just take my rights lightly. The board even recommended that the GOMOR be removed from my file. I am now happily serving with my good name and reputation back and it is thanks to the work of Stephen Carpenter. He saved my life.

Stephen defended me against an unjustified personal vendetta carried out by my commander. His rebuttal to the GOMOR I received, referring time and again to the appropriate regulatory guidelines, was instrumental in having it removed from my OMPF, allowing me to continue my military career and service... to my country. Stephen is more than just talk, he is action, and I highly recommend his services if you find yourself in a similar situation.