David Edward Coombs
Encyclopedia
David Edward Coombs is a United States military defense counsel notable for his role in several high-profile cases.
Coombs spent twelve years on active duty service with the United States Army
's Judge Advocate General's Corps
. During this time, he was an Acting Chief of Military Justice, Senior Capital Defense Counsel, Judicial Advisor for the Iraqi Central Criminal Court - and was certified as a Military Judge.
He was Professor of Law at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
in Charlottesville, Virginia during 2006-2009, and in 2007 he was a co-supervisor in the University of Virginia Law Extramural (Moot Court
) Advocacy Team.
From 2003 to 2005, he served as one of four defense counsel in the United States v. Sergeant Hasan Akbar
case, a matter which received wide coverage.
In 2009, Coombs left active duty service, and now runs a private practice specializing in defending members of the United States Army. He is currently (2010) representing US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning regarding allegations of improper release of classified information to Wikileaks
.
Coombs is also an adjunct law professor of Trial Advocacy at Roger Williams School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island. He is also now teaching trial advocacy and criminal law as a reserve Lieutenant Colonel at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Coombs spent twelve years on active duty service with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
. During this time, he was an Acting Chief of Military Justice, Senior Capital Defense Counsel, Judicial Advisor for the Iraqi Central Criminal Court - and was certified as a Military Judge.
He was Professor of Law at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School educates military, civilian, and international personnel in legal and leadership skills. The center is operated by the United States Army and is located in Charlottesville, Virginia...
in Charlottesville, Virginia during 2006-2009, and in 2007 he was a co-supervisor in the University of Virginia Law Extramural (Moot Court
Moot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
) Advocacy Team.
From 2003 to 2005, he served as one of four defense counsel in the United States v. Sergeant Hasan Akbar
Hasan Akbar case
The Hasan Akbar case refers to an event in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, when Hasan Karim Akbar was convicted of the double-murder of two officers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait.The victims were Army...
case, a matter which received wide coverage.
In 2009, Coombs left active duty service, and now runs a private practice specializing in defending members of the United States Army. He is currently (2010) representing US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning regarding allegations of improper release of classified information to Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
.
Coombs is also an adjunct law professor of Trial Advocacy at Roger Williams School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island. He is also now teaching trial advocacy and criminal law as a reserve Lieutenant Colonel at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Publications
- The Army Lawyer “Uncharged Misconduct - The Edge is Never Dull”, The Army Lawyer, May 2007
- Dictionary of Common Evidentiary Issues, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), (author) 2007, 2008
- Advanced Evidence Deskbook, TJAGLCS (author) 2006–2008.
- “Pass Go, Collect $200.00, and Hire Yourself an Expert – Article 46 and the Right to Expert Assistance”, The Army Lawyer, June 2008
- United States v. Blazier: So Exactly Who Needs an Invitation to the Dance? , The Army Lawyer, July 2010