The Candid Review: A Blog About Appeals

Clint Lorance: All is Not Fair in Love & War

In August of 2013 a soldier named Clint Lorance was sentenced to a 20-year period of imprisonment for his conduct during deployment in Afghanistan. Lorance had enlisted in the military right after high school serving as a military police soldier in Iraq, South Korea, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. This month the commander of the 82^nd Airborne Division has reduced the 20-year imprisonment, but refused to overturn Lorances guilty verdict. Lorance was convicted of the murder of two Afghan men back in 2012. Currently, Lorance is imprisoned at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  The next step in his appeal will be to send his case to the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals

U.S. v. Lorance

In 2012 Lorance was deployed to Afghanistan with the 4^th Brigade Combat Team in the 82^nd Airborne Division of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On July 2, 2012 Lorance was serving as a newly appointed platoon leader. He was serving with his soldiers as well as with Afghan soldiers on foot patrol. Allegedly it was at this time that three men on motorcycles approached the platoon. According to prosecutors Lorance ordered his soldiers to shoot the men on the motorcycle, who in turn killed two of the three men. Prosecutors stated that this act is in violation of the military’s rules of engagement. Lorance was charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and a charge of making a false official statement. In a trial by jury Lorance was convicted of both counts of murder and the one count of attempted murder. He was found not guilty on the charge regarding falsifying an official statement. Aside from the sentencing of a 20-year imprisonment, Lorance was also dismissed from the army.

Reasonable Doubt?

According to Lorances attorney, John Maher, the trial was not a fair one. Maher stated, Clint did not initiate this, nor did he engaged anybody directly. In his petition for clemency, requesting that the guilty verdict be overturned, Maher wrote that Lorance had only seconds on that July day to make a life-or-death decision and protect his men. This is not a case where a depraved soldier intended to kill indiscriminately, Maher said, This is the case of a patriotic and loyal infantry officer who zealously sought to protect his paratroopers. Supporters of Lorance voice similar concerns. After beginning a Facebook page and website in support, his family and friends began to tell his side of the story. According to the website, Lorances fear that these men were enemies was not unreasonable. The website states that the third motorcyclist, the one who ran away, was confirmed to be a Taliban member. On top of that, U.S. helicopters were radioing LT Lorances patrol indicating confirmed enemy activity in the area. The site proclaims that Lorances decision to order a shot on the men was tactical, not murder.

The team at Brownstone Law supports the troops and wishes for a just and fair outcome in the case of U.S. v. Lorance.