Dugan gets the nod
for Municipal Court

Gov. Ed Rendell last week nominated Castor Gardens resident Patrick Dugan to fill a vacancy on Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Dugan, 46, is a former examiner for the state Liquor Control Board and once worked for ex-City Councilman Rick Mariano.
Dugan, a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, recently returned from a tour in Iraq. He also served two tours in Afghanistan. A former paratrooper, he served in South Korea and Panama in the 1980s.
"Patrick Dugan has led by example," Rendell said. "The same intelligence, courage and commitment to justice Patrick displayed as a member of the U.S. military and the compassion he showed through his pro bono work will serve him well as a member of the court. I am proud to make this nomination."
A graduate of St. Joseph’s Prep, Dugan earned a liberal arts degree from the State University of New York in 1991 and graduated from the Rutgers-Camden School of Law in 1994.
Since then, he has been a trial attorney in private practice, handling criminal cases and Family Court matters. He represented many indigent clients, with more than 10 percent of his practice devoted to pro bono work.
In Iraq, Dugan was a member of the 416th civil affairs battalion. He helped the governor of Ninewa Province and the people of Mosul with the fundamentals of democracy. He was awarded a Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, three Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals and Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals.
Retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, wrote in his book, American Soldier, that he drew inspiration from Dugan.
Franks described Dugan as ". . . the young Philadelphia lawyer who walked away from a successful practice to serve in the Army, helping Iraqis write their first ever constitution, volunteering because he knew he had the skills the Iraqis needed to build their future."
"Patrick Dugan has served his community and his country with distinction," Rendell said. "I hope the state Senate will act quickly and confirm this true American hero." ••