About Us

The Area Defense Counsel provides Air Force members who are suspected of an offense or facing potential adverse administrative action with legal representation. The ADC is an experienced judge advocate outside the local chain of command and offers Airmen the ability to receive completely confidential legal advice.

Services Provided

The ADC's primary responsibility is to vigorously and ethically represent clients who are facing military adverse actions such as:

- Courts-martial
- Letter of Counseling/Letter of Admonishment/Letter of Reprimand
- Article 15
- Administrative Discharge
- Referral Enlisted Performance Brief/Officer Performance Brief
- Suspect Rights Advisement
- Potential Office of Special Investigations/Security Forces Investigation
- Commander Directed Investigation/Inspector General/Equal Opportunity Investigation
- Unfavorable Information File entries and control rosters
- Any other adverse actions in which counsel for an individual is required or authorized

*The ADC is not able to assist in certain areas such as personal civil legal matters, civilian convictions, and items handled by other base agencies. However, if you have any questions as to the availability of our services, please call to make an appointment.

The Area Defense Counsel is available for active duty/Title 10 Air Force members only. Sister services must contact the nearest servicing base for representation.

California National Guard ADC Intake Website:  https://calguard.ca.gov/trialdefense/

Contact Information

Please call 530-634-2081 (DSN 634-2081) or email lydia.pascale_estefo@us.af.mil and nathaniel.causey@us.af.mil to discuss your matter. If you have a defense emergency and cannot reach the ADC office, you can contact the Command Post at 530-634-5700 and request to speak with an ADC representative.

Location

The Beale ADC Office is located at 6500 B Street, Beale AFB. We are in the middle of the building shared with the 9th Contracting Squadron and the Innovation Lab and have our sign on the door.

Office Hours

Appointments are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. We currently operate by appointment only; however, walk-ins may be seen if time permits, following all scheduled appointments.

Under the provisions of Article 31, UCMJ, an Air Force member suspected of committing a criminal offense has the right to remain silent and the right to consult with a military lawyer free of charge prior to making any statements. Any statements a member makes, oral or written, may be used as evidence against them in a trial by court-martial or in other judicial or administrative proceedings.

Members have the right to consult a lawyer and to have a lawyer present while being interviewed or interrogated by authorities. In addition to military counsel, members are entitled to civilian counsel of their own choosing, at their own expense. Members may stop the questioning or request a lawyer at any time during questioning. The fact that a member exercises the right to remain silent or the right to consult with an attorney cannot be held against the member by Air Force.