The First Judicial District is announcing today the launch of a new problem solving court: Philadelphia Veterans Court. According to the Media Advisory, "the new Veterans Court will oversee a range of services offered to qualified veterans involved in the criminal justice system. Philadelphia Municipal Court Judges Patrick Dugan and Joseph Waters, both decorated veterans, serve as presiding judges of Veterans Court."
Special courts for cases involving veterans have been in the news lately. As reported in thePittsburgh Post-Gazette, earlier this week, Senator Arlen Specter held a hearing in Pittsburgh about veterans courts, one of which opened in Pittsburgh late last year. In addition, Newsweek recently featured a column by Dahlia Lithwick discussing the creation of special courts for veterans.
