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{{short description|American lawyer (born 1956)}} | |||
'''Charles Gittins''' is an American lawyer, who was worked for a number of noteworthy ]s in ] ] -- including: | |||
{{distinguish|Charles Gittens}} | |||
* ] ] -- ] who shot two unarmed captives. | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} | |||
* ] ] -- ] ] involved in the ] scandal. | |||
* ] ] -- Former instructor from the ]'s ] school who bombarded a platoon of Canadians in Afghanistan, even though he had been directed to hold his fire. | |||
* ] ] -- ] of the ], when his submarine negligently did a power surface, right under the ], a ]ese research vessel. | |||
* ] A young recruit who tried to get ] status. | |||
* ] ] -- An amateur body-builder who failed a drug urine test, who argued it was triggered by an over-the-counter health product. | |||
* ] ] -- Shot his ] partner, an Iraqi ], then shot himself with his partner's gun. Berg claimed his partner attacked him first, and Berg returned fire in self defense. | |||
* ] ] shot an unarmed, bound prisoner in the back of the head. | |||
{{Infobox military person | |||
Mr Gittins is an officer in the ]. | |||
| name = Charles Gittins | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|10|26}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Hubbell |first=Martindale |date=March 2001 |title=Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Volume 17 |publisher=] |isbn=9781561604395 }}</ref> | |||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|05|17|1956|10|26}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/charles-gittins-obituary?id=55174556 |title=Obituary: Charles William Gittins |date=May 24, 2024 |website=Legacy.com |publisher=Legacy |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| placeofburial_label = | |||
| placeofburial = | |||
| birth_place = ] | |||
| death_place = | |||
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | |||
| nickname = Charlie | |||
| birth_name = | |||
| allegiance = | |||
| branch = ]<br />]<ref name="Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World">{{cite book |last=Rudy Socha, Carolyn Butler Darrow |date=March 2004 |title=Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World |publisher=] |page=89 |isbn=9781596520400 }}</ref> | |||
| serviceyears = 1979-1992 (active duty)<ref name="Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World" /><br />1992-1995 (reserve)<ref name="Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World" /> | |||
| rank = ] | |||
| servicenumber = | |||
| unit = ]<ref name="Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World" /> | |||
| commands = | |||
| battles = ] | |||
| battles_label = | |||
| awards = | |||
| relations = | |||
| laterwork = Lawyer who specializes in military cases | |||
}} | |||
'''Charles William Gittins'''<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.martindale.com/winchester/virginia/charles-william-gittins-1742587-a/| title = Charles William Gittins Profile {{!}} Winchester, VA Lawyer {{!}} Martindale.com}}</ref> (born October 26, 1956) is an American lawyer, who has worked for a number of noteworthy ]s in military ].<ref name=AboveAndBeyond> | |||
== External links == | |||
{{cite news | |||
* | |||
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YQ3y_u7OSTMC&q=Gittins&pg=PA6 | |||
* | |||
| title = Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer The Civilian World | |||
* | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
* | |||
| isbn = 978-1-59652-040-0 | |||
* | |||
| author = Rudy Socha, Carolyn Butler Darrow | |||
*, ], October 3, 2005 | |||
| year = 2005 | |||
| pages = 89–90 | |||
| access-date = October 1, 2010 | |||
}} | |||
</ref><ref name=VirginianPilot2004-03-10> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=101405EA30A7413A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | |||
| title = Increasing number of Navy officers being fired | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
| date = March 10, 2004 | |||
| access-date = April 12, 2012 | |||
| quote = His most famous case involved Cmdr. Scott Waddle, commanding officer of the submarine Greeneville, which hit a Japanese training vessel in February 2001. | |||
| page = A1 | |||
| first = Matthew | |||
| last = Dolan | |||
}} | |||
</ref><ref name=LosAngelesTimes2001-03-05> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-05-mn-33667-story.html | |||
|title=Court to Begin Sub Crash Inquiry | |||
|work=] | |||
|date=March 5, 2001 | |||
|access-date=April 12, 2012 | |||
|quote=Waddle's attorney Charles Gittins, who has represented clients in several high-profile military cases, said Sunday that the collision was caused by a ‘chain of mistakes’ in the sub's control room that left his client unaware of the dangerous proximity of the trawler. | |||
|first=Tony | |||
|last=Perry | |||
|url-status=live | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305210622/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/mar/05/news/mn-33667 | |||
|archive-date=March 5, 2016 | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
{{lawyer-stub}} | |||
Gittins attended the ], graduating in 1979. He then joined the ] where he served as a Radar Intercept Officer.<ref name=AboveAndBeyond/> | |||
Gittins graduated first in his class from ]'s ] in 1987 and was in the Judge Advocate Corps for six years, before entering civilian life.<ref name=AboveAndBeyond/><ref name=NYTimes1998-02-22> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/22/us/brash-civilian-lawyer-battles-army-in-court-martial.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm | |||
|title=Brash Civilian Lawyer Battles Army in Court-Martial | |||
|work=] | |||
|date=February 22, 1998 | |||
|access-date=April 12, 2012 | |||
|quote=He was honored by the service with an invitation to go to law school at the expense of the Government. He graduated first in his class at Catholic University in May 1987. | |||
|first=Jane | |||
|last=Gross | |||
|url-status=bot: unknown | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064510/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/22/us/brash-civilian-lawyer-battles-army-in-court-martial.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm | |||
|archive-date=March 5, 2016 | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
The first civilian firm Gittins worked for was ].<ref name=AboveAndBeyond/> While there he defended Robert E. Stumpf, Commander of the ], and one of the principals in the ].<ref name=MotherTailhook1997> | |||
{{cite book | |||
| isbn = 978-1-56000-293-2 | |||
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MyEWZs4m2WQC&q=%22Charles+Gittins%22++military+law&pg=PR9 | |||
| title = The mother of all hooks: the story of the U.S. Navy's Tailhook Scandal | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
| first = William H. | |||
| last = McMichael | |||
| year = 1997 | |||
| access-date = October 16, 2010 | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
He spent three and a half years there before founding his own firm.<ref name=AboveAndBeyond/> | |||
==Clients== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ '''Notable clients''' | |||
| ] ] || ] who was cleared of shooting two unarmed Iraqi captives, then desecrating their bodies in order "to send a message".<ref name=WashingtonTimes050314>, '']'', March 14, 2005</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] ] || ] ] involved in the ] scandal.<ref name=WashingtonTimes>, '']'', March 16, 2005</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] ] || Former instructor from the ]'s ] school who ], even though he had been directed to hold his fire.<ref name="Cbc2004-07-04">{{Cite news |date=July 4, 2004 |title=U.S. 'friendly fire' pilot suing air force |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-friendly-fire-pilot-suing-air-force-1.486939 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=Cbc2003-01-14> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/inquiry-into-deaths-of-canadian-soldiers-in-afghanistan-under-way-1.402718 | |||
|title=Inquiry into deaths of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan under way | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|date=January 14, 2003 | |||
|access-date=April 10, 2012 | |||
|quote=Both Gittins and Beck say the responsibility for the friendly fire incident lies further up in the chain of command. | |||
|url-status=live | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418042210/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2003/01/13/friendlyfire030113.html?print | |||
|archive-date=April 18, 2016 | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] ] || ] of the ], during the conduct of an emergency surface maneuver, the GREENEVILLE collided with the Japanese Fishery training vessle '']'' which sank in 2000 feet of water off the coast of Oahu (see ]).<ref name=LosAngelesTimes2001-03-05/><ref name=Honolulu> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = http://starbulletin.com/2001/03/20/news/story1.html | |||
| title = Waddle testifies he's truly sorry: The sub commander is denied immunity but says testifying is the right thing to do | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
| date = March 20, 2001 | |||
| access-date = April 12, 2012 | |||
| quote = Yesterday, his attorney, Charles Gittins, said Waddle would not testify because he had not been granted testimonial immunity by Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. | |||
| first = Gregg K. | |||
| last = Kakesako | |||
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160410072143/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2001/03/20/news/story1.html | |||
| archive-date = 2016-04-10 | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] ] || Commanded the troops at the ], which beat two Afghani captives to death with "compliance blows".<ref name=NYTimes2006-02-13> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/national/13bagram.html?pagewanted=all | |||
|title=Years After 2 Afghans Died, Abuse Case Falters | |||
|work=The New York Times | |||
|date=February 13, 2006 | |||
|access-date=April 10, 2012 | |||
|quote=In one of the prosecutors' most important tests, the Army last month abandoned its case against Capt. Christopher M. Beiring, the former military police commander at Bagram and one of the few American officers since 9/11 to face criminal charges related to the abuse of detainees by the officers' subordinates. | |||
|page=A1 | |||
|author=Tim Golden | |||
|author-link=Tim Golden (journalist) | |||
|url-status=live | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111140528/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/national/13bagram.html?pagewanted=all | |||
|archive-date=November 11, 2012 | |||
}} | |||
</ref><ref> | |||
{{cite book | |||
| isbn = 978-0-89608-753-8 | |||
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WpCInqZEYUwC&q=Christopher+Beiring+%22compliance+blows%22+OR+%22knee+strikes%22+OR+peroneal+OR+peroneal+-site%3Aorg&pg=PA76 | |||
| title = American Methods: Torture And the Logic of Domination | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
| year = 2006 | |||
| access-date = April 10, 2012 | |||
| quote = Ultimately, the army's Criminal Investigations Command recommended charges against 28 soldiers, implicating them in the deaths of two detainees. (One was Dilawar; the other was Mullah Habibullah, who died on December 4, 2002 after similar treatment.) As of September 2004, twelve GIs had actually been charged, including the commander of the 377th, Captain Christopher M. Beiring. | |||
| page = 76 | |||
| first = Kristian | |||
| last = Williams | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] ] || | |||
Stone was a Marine Judge Advocate officer against whom charges were recommended for failing to formally investigate the ] where a squad of Marines methodically shot and killed two dozen nearby civilian families after a well-liked comrade was killed by a roadside bomb.<ref name=Npr2007-05-08> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10069336 | |||
| title = Haditha Proceedings Begin with Marine Lawyer | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
| date = May 8, 2007 | |||
| access-date = April 11, 2012 | |||
| quote = Stone's lawyer, Charles Gittins, says the Marines are trying to make his client a scapegoat. <!--"They've gone after Captain Stone because it's convenient to go after the lowest-level guy and make him the guy holding the bag," Gittins said. "But the truth of the matter is there were judge advocates at every level, all of whom had exactly the same information as Captain Stone and none of whom believed there was a reason to investigate."--> | |||
| first = John | |||
| last = McChesney | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
|} | |||
==See also== | |||
{{Portal|Biography}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gittins, Charles}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 03:24, 3 September 2024
American lawyer (born 1956) Not to be confused with Charles Gittens.
Charles Gittins | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Charlie |
Born | (1956-10-26)October 26, 1956 Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania |
Died | May 17, 2024(2024-05-17) (aged 67) |
Service | United States Marine Corps United States Marine Corps Reserve |
Years of service | 1979-1992 (active duty) 1992-1995 (reserve) |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Unit | United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division |
Battles / wars | Gulf War |
Other work | Lawyer who specializes in military cases |
Charles William Gittins (born October 26, 1956) is an American lawyer, who has worked for a number of noteworthy defendants in military courts martial.
Gittins attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1979. He then joined the Marine Corps where he served as a Radar Intercept Officer.
Gittins graduated first in his class from The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in 1987 and was in the Judge Advocate Corps for six years, before entering civilian life. The first civilian firm Gittins worked for was Williams & Connolly. While there he defended Robert E. Stumpf, Commander of the Blue Angels, and one of the principals in the Tailhook scandal. He spent three and a half years there before founding his own firm.
Clients
Lieutenant Ilario Pantano | United States Marine Corps who was cleared of shooting two unarmed Iraqi captives, then desecrating their bodies in order "to send a message". |
Specialist Charles Graner | Military Police reservist involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal. |
Major Harry "Psycho" Schmidt | Former instructor from the United States Navy's TOPGUN school who bombarded a platoon of Canadians in Afghanistan, even though he had been directed to hold his fire. |
Commander Scott Waddle | Captain of the USS GREENEVILLE, during the conduct of an emergency surface maneuver, the GREENEVILLE collided with the Japanese Fishery training vessle Ehime Maru which sank in 2000 feet of water off the coast of Oahu (see Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision). |
Captain Christopher M. Beiring | Commanded the troops at the Bagram Theater Internment Facility, which beat two Afghani captives to death with "compliance blows". |
Captain Randy W. Stone |
Stone was a Marine Judge Advocate officer against whom charges were recommended for failing to formally investigate the Haditha incident where a squad of Marines methodically shot and killed two dozen nearby civilian families after a well-liked comrade was killed by a roadside bomb. |
See also
References
- Hubbell, Martindale (March 2001). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Volume 17. Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN 9781561604395.
- "Obituary: Charles William Gittins". Legacy.com. Legacy. May 24, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Rudy Socha, Carolyn Butler Darrow (March 2004). Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World. Turner Publishing Company. p. 89. ISBN 9781596520400.
- "Charles William Gittins Profile | Winchester, VA Lawyer | Martindale.com".
- ^ Rudy Socha, Carolyn Butler Darrow (2005). "Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer The Civilian World". Turner Publishing Company. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-1-59652-040-0. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
-
Dolan, Matthew (March 10, 2004). "Increasing number of Navy officers being fired". The Virginian-Pilot. p. A1. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
His most famous case involved Cmdr. Scott Waddle, commanding officer of the submarine Greeneville, which hit a Japanese training vessel in February 2001.
- ^
Perry, Tony (March 5, 2001). "Court to Begin Sub Crash Inquiry". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
Waddle's attorney Charles Gittins, who has represented clients in several high-profile military cases, said Sunday that the collision was caused by a 'chain of mistakes' in the sub's control room that left his client unaware of the dangerous proximity of the trawler.
-
Gross, Jane (February 22, 1998). "Brash Civilian Lawyer Battles Army in Court-Martial". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
He was honored by the service with an invitation to go to law school at the expense of the Government. He graduated first in his class at Catholic University in May 1987.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - McMichael, William H. (1997). The mother of all hooks: the story of the U.S. Navy's Tailhook Scandal. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56000-293-2. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- Marines advised to drop charges, The Washington Times, March 14, 2005
- Graner refuses to testify in other Abu Ghraib trials, The Washington Times, March 16, 2005
- "U.S. 'friendly fire' pilot suing air force". CBC News. July 4, 2004.
-
"Inquiry into deaths of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan under way". CBC News. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
Both Gittins and Beck say the responsibility for the friendly fire incident lies further up in the chain of command.
-
Kakesako, Gregg K. (March 20, 2001). "Waddle testifies he's truly sorry: The sub commander is denied immunity but says testifying is the right thing to do". Honolulu Star Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
Yesterday, his attorney, Charles Gittins, said Waddle would not testify because he had not been granted testimonial immunity by Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
-
Tim Golden (February 13, 2006). "Years After 2 Afghans Died, Abuse Case Falters". The New York Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
In one of the prosecutors' most important tests, the Army last month abandoned its case against Capt. Christopher M. Beiring, the former military police commander at Bagram and one of the few American officers since 9/11 to face criminal charges related to the abuse of detainees by the officers' subordinates.
-
Williams, Kristian (2006). American Methods: Torture And the Logic of Domination. South End Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-89608-753-8. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
Ultimately, the army's Criminal Investigations Command recommended charges against 28 soldiers, implicating them in the deaths of two detainees. (One was Dilawar; the other was Mullah Habibullah, who died on December 4, 2002 after similar treatment.) As of September 2004, twelve GIs had actually been charged, including the commander of the 377th, Captain Christopher M. Beiring.
-
McChesney, John (May 8, 2007). "Haditha Proceedings Begin with Marine Lawyer". NPR. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
Stone's lawyer, Charles Gittins, says the Marines are trying to make his client a scapegoat.