Nelson Robles: Army JAG Officer & Attorney Defending Fort Drum Soldiers
Trouble in an interview room, or a single finding from a court-martial panel, can decide the future of a soldier at Fort Drum. For soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division’s brigade combat teams, aviators with the Combat Aviation Brigade, and the artillery and sustainment units that keep Fort Drum running, experienced and knowledgeable legal counsel for their cases is non-negotiable.
As a founding partner at Corrao & Robles Law, Nelson Robles represents soldiers and veterans connected to Fort Drum in military justice matters and those related to federal and administrative concerns. As a U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer, Attorney Robles knows the system and what it takes to win a case.
What Sets a JAG Officer Apart as an Attorney for Military Members
Most civilian attorneys learn military law secondhand — through seminars, textbooks, and the occasional court-martial. Nelson Robles spent years as an active-duty Army JAG Major working inside that same system, which means he already understands how command decisions get made, how CID agents build a case, and how a panel actually deliberates. He has completed the Judge Advocate Officer Course, the Military Trial Advocacy Course, and the Complex Victim Unit Course, and his service is recognized with the Army Commendation Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. That background shows up in how thoroughly he prepares and how he carries himself in front of a panel or a board.
Defending Fort Drum Soldiers at Every Stage of the Military Justice Process
As home to the 10th Mountain Division’s combat, aviation, artillery, and sustainment units, Fort Drum generates a steady volume of military justice cases each year. Attorney Robles represents soldiers and veterans connected to the installation in matters that include:
A conviction at a general court-martial can lead to a dishonorable discharge, loss of all pay, and years of confinement; special and summary courts-martial carry their own real consequences. Attorney Robles takes on cases as early as the Article 32 hearing and stays involved through trial, and if needed, through an appeal to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
By the time a soldier learns Army CID is looking into them, the investigation may already be well underway. Speaking with investigators without a lawyer present rarely works in a soldier’s favor. Attorney Robles aims to get involved as soon as possible, before statements are made that can’t be taken back.
Non-judicial punishment under Article 15 is often presented to soldiers as the quick, low-stakes option. It isn’t always. A finding can cost a soldier rank, pay, and a clean record — consequences that can resurface at the next promotion board or reenlistment review. Attorney Robles walks clients through whether to accept NJP or push for a court-martial instead, and prepares the strongest mitigation argument when a hearing does move forward.
Sexual assault charges under Article 120 are treated as a top priority by military prosecutors, and the fallout from an allegation can outlast the case itself. Attorney Robles conducts a thorough independent investigation and builds a defense grounded in the actual evidence, not assumptions.
Not every threat to a soldier’s career comes from a courtroom. Attorney Robles also represents Fort Drum soldiers in:
- Administrative separation boards and boards of inquiry
- Reenlistment bar actions
- Security clearance revocations and DOHA hearings
- Applications to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR)
- Rebuttals to officer and NCO evaluation reports
- Responses to General Officer Memoranda of Reprimand (GOMOR)
- AWOL and desertion cases
- Denied VA disability claims and appeals
- USERRA violations tied to civilian reemployment
Time Matters More Than Many Soldiers Realize
Fort Drum’s training and deployment schedule doesn’t pause for a pending case. Witnesses transfer, evidence gets harder to track down, and the clock on an Article 15 response, a security clearance appeal, or an ABCMR petition keeps running whether or not a soldier is ready. Waiting too long can mean losing options that were available at the outset.
The same holds true off base. If a Fort Drum soldier is facing possible state or federal charges, getting a lawyer involved before speaking to law enforcement and before the government’s case is fully built can make a real difference in the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Soldiers Throughout the Fort Drum Area
Attorney Robles represents service members, veterans, and military families connected to Fort Drum and the surrounding North Country region, including Watertown, Carthage, Evans Mills, Black River, Antwerp, and Philadelphia, as well as soldiers who have since relocated to bases outside New York.
