The April 15th article by military.com referenced a change in the Air Force base where the trial was going to take place, in order to accommodate a material witness in the case. Professor Carpenter elaborated on the reasoning behind said change, explaining “That can happen when you have a convening authority that might otherwise be conflicted… They find somebody neutral, and then that convening authority can refer the case.” With a distinguished background in military law, Professor Carpenter commented on how ” it’s pretty unusual for any allegations of consensual affairs to go to trial in the military justice system, saying they’re typically handled with administrative punishment.” This observation makes the case stand out, as the allegations might be more serious than it was expected. In a follow-up article published on April 16th by military.com, it was announced that Col. Christopher Meeker was “Punished with 21 Days’ Confinement, Forfeiture of Pay After Guilty Plea” Professor Carpenter was quoted once again, stating “There was something extra egregious here… The jail time really probably reflected the egregiousness of the violation of the orders.” Professor Carpenter’s continued contributions to legal discussions demonstrate his deep expertise in military justice and the value he brings to the FIU Law community.
Professor Eric Carpenter Offers Commentary on Court-Martial Case
Professor Eric Carpenter recently provided commentary in a series of articles from military.com, covering the court martial of former Air Force commander Col. Christopher Meeker, who was charged with 3 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. These included Willfully Disobeying a Superior Commissioned Officer, Extramarital Sexual Conduct, and Fraternization.