In “Acts of Supremacy,” Walter Francis Fitzpatrick III delivers a searing exposé of America's military justice system through the lens of his own harrowing experience. As a decorated Naval officer whose career was derailed by what he describes as a rigged court-martial, Fitzpatrick meticulously documents how military tribunals operate outside constitutional boundaries, creating a shadow justice system where commanders wield extraordinary power over the accused.
Fitzpatrick unravels the historical roots of military discipline from Roman and British traditions to modern practice, revealing how the Uniform Code of Military Justice allows for prosecutorial overreach, command influence, and denial of due process rights that would be unthinkable in civilian courts. With painstaking detail, he reconstructs his own case alongside the infamous court-martial of USS Indianapolis Captain Charles McVay, demonstrating disturbing parallels of command vindictiveness and scapegoating spanning decades.
This unflinching account exposes how military justice can become a weapon wielded by commanders against subordinates, raising urgent questions about constitutional protections for those who swear to defend those very rights. Fitzpatrick's narrative combines personal memoir, legal analysis, and historical research to challenge readers to consider reform of a system that impacts thousands of service members.
A crucial read for military personnel, legal professionals, and anyone concerned with justice and accountability in American institutions. If you enjoyed “Military Justice is to Justice as Military Music is to Music,” “Court-Martial: How Military Justice Has Shaped America,” and “Dereliction of Duty,” you'll love “Acts of Supremacy.”
