James Duggan, who was 79 years old when he passed away, was the person responsible for establishing the state’s appellate office for poor defendants and expanding access to justice from the bench of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
He spent his childhood in Mamaroneck, New York, despite having was born in Laconia. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in 1964, Duggan volunteered for two years with the Peace Corps before enrolling in the Georgetown University Law Center.
In 1969, immediately following his graduation from the law school at Georgetown University, he began working for the public defender’s office in Washington, District of Columbia. In 1974, he was employed by the state of New Hampshire to act as a public defender, at about the time that the state started formalizing and supporting the work of public defenders for persons who were unable to pay for attorneys.
Obituary: What Is James Duggan’s Death Cause?
His family has validated the news that Duggan has passed away. After experiencing a period of deteriorating health, he passed away on Saturday at his home in Amherst, according to his family.
Shaheen, who is currently serving as a senator in the United States, offered her sympathies as soon as she learned of Duggan’s passing.
On Twitter, he said, “His dedication to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice for all was steadfast, and I was pleased to nominate him to the state Supreme Court in 2001.” He was referring to the deceased man’s commitment to the legal system. The courtroom and the public defender system in New Hampshire are both places where his illustrious legacy continues to be honored.
In a similar vein, Duggan is remembered by his coworkers for his well-organized intellect, his unwavering confidence in the legal system, and his readiness to roll up his sleeves and fight to make the system better.
Meet James Duggan’s Wife Helen Hartman: Where Is She?
His wife Helen Hartman, their kids Brian and Brendan, and a sister are the ones who will carry on after him. Both of his kids, Kevin and Patrick, passed away before their father. Although there is not a lot of information available about James’ wife, it would appear that she was quite encouraging of his professional endeavors.
It seemed as though the four members of the family were content with their lives together. However, now that James has passed away, the whole family must be in utter disbelief.
Even though James’ wife and children are having a hard time coping with the circumstances at the moment, he will continue to be the center of his family no matter what.
James Duggan’s Net Worth Before Death
In the United States, the annual income for a chief public defender is often around $120,342 and the hourly rate is typically around $61.71. The minimum annual salary for entry-level positions is $86,018, and the maximum annual salary for most experienced workers is $158,500. As a direct consequence of this, Duggan’s salary must be situated somewhere within the aforementioned range.
It is reasonable to assume that he left behind a sizeable wealth when he passed away. It’s safe to assume that he has a net worth of a million dollars.
Furthermore, according to professor emeritus Mitchell Simon, he was not only the chief public defense but also taught criminal procedure and other courses to classes with more than one hundred pupils in each of those classes. Simon claims that while being a hard, honest, and fair educator, he never intended to put his students in a position where they would feel inferior.
According to Michael Skibbie, who was one of his former pupils, many students saw him as a mentor due to the fact that he helped students work through both personal and professional challenges using the same straightforward logic. He was nominated for a seat on the state Supreme Court by the governor who served at the time, who did so after a screening committee lauded his “unusual combination of scholarliness and pragmatism,” as well as his capacity to work “tirelessly, wisely, and courageously for the people of New Hampshire,” on his behalf.
What Happened To New Hampshire’s Supreme Court Justice?
There has been no change to the status of the Supreme Court Justice in New Hampshire.
After arguing hundreds of cases in front of the court in his role as chief appellate defender, Duggan earned a reputation as a trustworthy advocate who put in a lot of effort and was committed to sticking to the facts. According to Michael Skibbe, a former student who subsequently managed the office in the 1990s, Duggan fostered in the office a belief in “good lawyering” as a response to injustice. Skibbe served as the leader of the office during those years.
Because of his hard work and insightful reasoning, Duggan was held in high regard among the New Hampshire legal community. Skibbe remembered having overheard a conversation in which one of the participants stated, “Jim Duggan will probably never be on the Supreme Court, but he would be there if there were any justice in the world.”
