MOBILE, Alabama (WKRG) — Mobile County Circuit Judge James Patterson died Tuesday afternoon, sources said.
According to his court biography, Patterson graduated from UMS Preparatory School in 1978. He graduated from Sanford University, Birmingham in 1982 and received a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in 2000.
Patterson enlisted in the Navy in January 1983 after graduating from Samford. He was a helicopter attack pilot and a nuclear weapons delivery pilot.
Patterson has been awarded several medals, including the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, and the Maritime Service Deployment Ribbon.
He presided over several high-profile murders over the years. He was charged with ethical charges in his 2022.