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ANN ARBOR, MI – Late yesterday morning, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals sitting in Washington DC, released their unanimous decision upholding the dismissal of charges against Marine Lt. Col Jeffrey Chessani on the grounds of Unlawful Command Influence.

But rumors abound in military circles that the government is not done with the prosecution of this loyal Marine, considered by his superiors as one of the most effective combat officers in Iraq.

The Government has 30 days from the court’s decision  (March 17, 2009) to decide if they will ask the court to reconsider their opinion, ask for an en banc decision from the entire Navy and Marine Corps Court of Appeals, or seek a petition for appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) – the next higher court.   The Government could also decide to appoint a new convening authority to make an independent decision on whether to re-charge LtCol Chessani – essentially starting over.

For the last four years, LtCol Chessani has been investigated and prosecuted for his involvement in the so called “Haditha Massacre” – a massacre that never happened.  During this entire court process, the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been representing LtCol Chessani without charge.  The estimated attorney fees thus far would have amounted to a million dollars.  However, the Law Center is receiving donations from patriotic Americans all across America to support the cost of their defense of LtCol Chessani.

One of LtCol Chessani’s greatest supporters is conservative radio talk show commentator, Dr. Michael Savage.  Dr. Savage personally donated upwards of $20,000 dollars to the Law Center to assist in LtCol Chessani’s defense.  It is estimated that because of his encouragement, Savage listeners donated tens of thousands of dollars to LtCol Chessani’s defense as well.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, observed, “Michael Savage has given a national forum to the Law Center so that we could show the government’s persecution of one of our bravest combat leaders.”

Continued Thompson, “The government took its best shot and lost.  They have wasted millions of taxpayers’ dollars. It’s time for the Pentagon to say ‘enough is enough.’  I now call upon our military and civilian leaders to drop this persecution of LtCol Chessani and his family.”

LtCol Chessani is the highest ranking officer facing criminal charges as a result of the much-publicized and ill-described “Haditha massacre.”  The criminal charges against him stem from a legitimate combat action taken by four enlisted Marines in his command after they were ambushed by insurgents in Haditha, Iraq, on November 19, 2005.

Even though LtCol Chessani wasn’t present during the incident, he was criminally charged with failing to launch a full investigation into the incident.  If convicted, he faces 2 ½ years imprisonment, dismissal from the Corps, and loss of all of his retirement pay.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

ANN ARBOR, MI – Late this morning, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals sitting in Washington DC, released their unanimous decision upholding the dismissal of charges against Marine Lt. Col Jeffrey Chessani on the grounds of apparent Unlawful Command Influence.  But the case may not be over yet.

For the last four years, LtCol Chessani has been investigated and prosecuted for his involvement in the so called “Haditha Massacre” – a massacre that never happened.  A 22-year veteran, Chessani has served three tours of duty in Iraq.  He served in the First Persian Gulf War and in Panama.  At the time of the November 19, 2005 Haditha incident, he was the Battalion Commander of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (“The Thundering Third”) – one of the most decorated units in the history of the Marine Corps.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, observed, “LtCol Chessani, one of the most effective combat commanders we had in Iraq, was a made political scapegoat by the civilians in the Pentagon to appease the antiwar politicians and a liberal media.  In fact, we now know that the story of the ‘massacre’ that prompted the Haditha prosecutions was a headline in a Time news article instigated by insurgent propaganda operatives.”

Continued Thompson, “This nation has come to the point where we can’t call terrorists captured on the battlefield ‘enemy combatants.’  We release the terrorists out of Guantanamo and prosecute the military our country placed in harms’ way to defend us.”

Robert Muise, an attorney with the Law Center, a national public interest law firm, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, argued the case on behalf of LtCol Chessani.  The Law Center has been defending LtCol Chessani throughout his prosecution alongside his detailed Marine lawyers, LtCol John Shelburne and Captain Jeff King.  Captain Kyle Kilian, a Marine appellate defense lawyer, also assisted in the appeal.

LtCol Chessani is the highest ranking officer facing criminal charges as a result of the much-publicized and ill-described “Haditha massacre.”  The criminal charges against him stem from a legitimate combat action taken by four enlisted Marines in his command after they were ambushed by insurgents in Haditha, Iraq, on November 19, 2005.  Their actions resulted in the deaths of several ambushing insurgents.  Unfortunately and tragically, several civilians were also killed in the house-clearing operation.

Even though LtCol Chessani wasn’t present during the incident, he was criminally charged with failing to launch a full investigation into the incident.  If convicted, he faces 2 ½ years imprisonment, dismissal from the Corps, and loss of all of his retirement pay.

The essential holding of the military appellate court was as follows: “We are convinced the Government failed to meet its burden of demonstrating, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the proceedings were untainted by the appearance of UCI (Unlawful Command Influence).  We are similarly convinced that an objective, disinterested observer, fully informed of all the facts and circumstances, would harbor significant doubt about the fairness of this proceeding.”

Click here to read the appellate court’s decision.

This decision could be appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) and then even to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The government has yet to announce whether it will pursue another appeal.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced today that it’s West Coast Director, Charles S. LiMandri, won a jury verdict on behalf of four Christian Firefighters who were subjected to sexual harassment in the 2007 San Diego so-called “gay-pride” parade.

In July 2007, the four San Diego firefighters were ordered, against their wishes, to participate in uniform on their city fire engine in San Diego’s annual “Gay Pride” parade.  During the course of the ensuing three hour long ordeal, the firefighters were subjected to vile sexual taunts and gestures along the parade route.  These firemen are devoted husbands and fathers.  All four firemen are Christian men.

Yesterday, shortly before 4:30 p.m. P.S.T., the jury found in favor of the four courageous Christian firefighters on all nine questions in the verdict form.  This was the second time the case was tried in the past several months.  The first trial ended in a hung jury.

Charles S. LiMandri, West Coast Director of the Thomas More Law Center, stated, “This is a victory for all people who are willing to stand up for what is right when it comes to defending our basic freedoms of speech and religion.  No one should be forced to be subjected to sexual harassment on the job – not even male heterosexual firefighters who are being harassed by homosexual men at a Gay Pride Parade.  All city officials should now think twice before ever making such a wrongheaded decision to violate their employees’ rights in such an improper manner again.”

On July 20, 2007, the four firefighters were told by their superiors that they would be participating in the parade.  All four repeatedly protested that they did not wish to participate.  On the morning of July 21, 2007, however, they were ordered to ride on a fire engine, in uniform, in the parade.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.