Shea spent 12 years on active duty in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, transitioning into the reserve component as an O-5 to continue pursuing his passion: representing servicemembers. During his time on Active Duty, he litigated well over one hundred courts-martial, in addition to numerous other hearings and boards, as a prosecutor, defense counsel, legal advisor, and hearing officer. During his time as a defense counsel he represented clients in every rank from E-1 to O-8 worldwide, tackling the most complex and highest visibility cases.. He has cross examined hundreds of accusers, law enforcement officers, and commanders, including an O-10.
“Without a doubt the Air Force’s best defense counsel. “
-Air Force JAG Colonel
Shea graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park followed by the University of Baltimore School of Law. During law school, he was competitively selected to compete on the school’s mock trial team, negotiation team, and named a litigation fellow at the school’s center for litigation skills. During law school he also worked in the offices of a Maryland Court of Appeals Judge, a Circuit Court Judge, a leading Criminal Defense firm, and the State’s Attorney. Prior to joining the Air Force, Shea represented the State in numerous bench trials, and clients in all Maryland Courts, including arguing cases before the Maryland Supreme Court and Maryland Court of Appeals.
“Shea is as good as it gets…”
-Air Force Wing Commander
While on Active Duty, Shea was assigned to bases in California, Utah, Virginia, and Japan, held assignments as an Area Defense Counsel, Circuit Defense Counsel, Chief Circuit Defense Counsel, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, and Deployed Legal Advisor. A recognized expert in military justice, he also has extensive training and experience in operational law and authorities, advising clients in Air, Land, Maritime, and Special Operations and the unique experiences those in those fields encounter.
“I haven’t woken up this good in a while. I feel so free and recharged!”
-Acquitted Client
Admitted to practice law in all armed forces courts, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia (pending), and the United States Supreme Court, Shea represents clients in all components across the globe. He is an experienced advocate in all types of criminal and disciplinary cases military members face, from unprofessional relationships, drug use, and theft to sexual assault, murder, and crimes against children. Shea is an avid advocate for anyone accused of misconduct, a passionate champion for all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and an ardent believer in pursuing the best outcome obtainable for all.
Shea graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Government and Politics and Criminology and Criminal Justice. He later graduated from the University of Baltimore with a Juris Doctorate. He is also a certified American Sign Language Interpreter, and has successfully completed qualification courses for Air Operations, Accident Investigations, Preliminary and Administrative Hearings Officer, and Special Victims Cases.
Shea has litigated trials since 2009, mainly in cases involving criminal law, as well as criminal appeals, ethics, and products liability. He spent nearly 13 years on active duty, and continues to serve in the Air National Guard.
Shea specializes in all manner of criminal cases, especially those cases allegations of rape, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and other types of interpersonal violence. He also specializes in cases involving computer and digital forensics, such as internet crimes against children, solicitation, and alleged conspiracies. He is well versed in cases involving all manner of complex scenarios, especially cases involving allegations by multiple alleged victims and/or multiple alleged types of offenses. Previous cases have involved allegations including 71 alleged victims against a single accused, cross examining general officers, and dozens of trials involving complex areas such as alcohol/drug induced memory loss, scientific evidence, and digital evidence. He has worked with all types of experts including, but not limited to, specialists in forensic psychology, forensic toxicology, computer forensics, cell phone forensics, internet and telecommunications forensics, pathology, radiology, pediatrics, emergency medicine, DNA, biology, cardiology, gynecology, obstetrics, pulmonology, neurology, forensic accounting, crime scene analysis, and accident reconstruction.
Over the course of his career, Shea has represented thousands of clients, including in well over 100 courts-martial, and hundreds more state and federal civil and criminal proceedings, appellate appearances, and administrative hearings.
