Arnold & Porter Achieves Milestone Victory in Military Sexual Harassment Case

Arnold & Porter recently represented the victims in connection with the landmark prosecution of a former Joint Base Lewis–McChord Army battalion commander, who was convicted in a military court of the sexual harassment and maltreatment of female officers under his command. The case is one of the first brought under the recent overhaul of the military’s legal system, which made sexual harassment a criminal offense.

The Arnold & Porter pro bono team represented three Army officers who testified about the sexual harassment and maltreatment they endured by the former commander, who later admitted to his actions as part of the sentencing. A military judge ultimately found the commander guilty of three charges—sexual harassment, conduct unbecoming of an officer, and maltreatment—on December 13, 2024.

The case was featured in The New York Times article, “Colonel Found Guilty of Sexual Harassment in Trial Seen as a Milestone,” which examines how it marked one of the first prosecutions under recent military justice reforms that classified sexual harassment as a criminal offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. These reforms were enacted in response to increasing concerns over sexual assault and harassment within the military.

The Arnold & Porter pro bono team was led by counsel Ryan Guilds and included Senior Attorney and Advisor Evelyn Redmond.