David Coombs (lawyer)

Not to be confused with David Coombs.
David Coombs
Coombs in 2009
Born
David Edward Coombs

(1969-07-06) July 6, 1969 (age 55)
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Occupation(s)Lawyer, professor

David Edward Coombs (born July 6, 1969) is a United States military defense counsel known for his role in several high-profile cases.

Coombs spent twelve years on active duty service with the United States Army 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 (TJAGLCS) 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.[1] Since his promotion to lieutenant colonel, he has continued to teach trial advocacy and criminal law at TJAGLCS as a reserve officer.[2]

Coombs also was an adjunct law professor of criminal procedure, evidence, and trial advocacy at the Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island until 2023.[3][4][5] There he also served as the faculty advisor to the Military Law Society.[5]

From 2003 to 2005, he served as one of four defense counselors[6] in the United States v. Sergeant Hasan Akbar case, a matter which received wide coverage.[7][8][9][10]

In 2008, Coombs was a judicial advisor in support of the Law and Order Task Force in Baghdad, where he was responsible for mentoring and assisting Iraqi prosecutors and judges.[5]

In 2009, Coombs left active duty service and began a private practice specializing in defending members of the United States Army.[11] From 2010 to 2013, he represented U.S. Army Private First Class Chelsea Manning,[12][13] who was convicted of improper release of classified information to WikiLeaks.[14] He continued to represent Manning until her release in 2017, after President Obama commuted her sentence.[5]

In 2023, he joined University at Buffalo School of Law as a lecturer in both the undergraduate and JD programs.[5] He teaches Evidence, Military Justice, Criminal Procedure, and National Security Law.[5]

Publications

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References

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  1. ^ "Christensen, Andrew (February 7, 2008), "JAG School to Grant Credit to Extramural Moot Court Coaches". Virginia Law Weekly" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  2. ^ "David Coombs promoted to Lt. Col". Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  3. ^ "David Coombs". RWU Law. Archived from the original on 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  4. ^ "David Coombs". www.law.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Coombs, David". www.law.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  6. ^ "Capt. David Coombs, one of Akbar's four Army lawyers...", Army Times, June 16, 2003
  7. ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times".
  8. ^ "Akbar Sentenced to Death for Grenade Attack," Fox News
  9. ^ "Rulings in troop attack being reviewed" USA Today
  10. ^ "101st Airborne soldier who attacked comrades gets death" USA Today
  11. ^ "Civilian Court Martial Lawyer - Attorney David E. Coombs". Army Court Martial Defense.
  12. ^ Dishneau, David (August 31, 2010). "WikiLeaks defendant chooses civilian lawyer". Military Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  13. ^ Manning, Chelsea E. (August 21, 2017). "david coombs hasnt been my lawyer since 2013". Twitter. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017.
  14. ^ Patrick Semansky, "Bradley Manning wants to live as a woman: 'I am Chelsea Manning'", Toronto Star, August 22, 2013.
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