Attorney Profile

Patrick J. Mulligan

Patrick Mulligan was born and raised in Denver and has remained a Coloradan throughout his life. He has maintained an energetic and dynamic approach that has consistently contributed to his success as a lawyer.

While attending college and law school in Colorado, he maintained high standards of academic excellence and was very active in sports. Attorney Mulligan graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Colorado and was the president of Phi Delta Phi at the University of Colorado Law School.

Attorney Mulligan began his career in law in 1987 when he joined the Denver Law Firm of Clanahan, Tanner, Downing and Knowlton, where he stayed through 1988. He shifted his focus toward defense of the indigent in 1988 and joined the Office of the Public Defender. He served in the trial and appellate divisions of the Public Defender’s Office, working in the Pueblo and then Arapahoe office. In 1990, Attorney Mulligan joined the Appellate Division where he focused on appeals of serious felony cases through the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court. Returning to trial cases in 1992, he worked in Jefferson County until he opened his own private practice in 1994 as a criminal defense lawyer.

Attorney Mulligan believes in providing aggressive but compassionate representation to those accused of criminal offenses. He has been qualified as an expert witness in many different jurisdictions throughout the state of Colorado. Attorney Mulligan has been hired by attorneys as an expert in criminal law both to assist in pending criminal litigation and in matters of attorney discipline. He has also acquired an exceptional expertise in the areas of appellate law and post-conviction (Rule 35c) litigation, not offered by many attorneys in the Denver area.

Attorney Mulligan teaches at the University of Colorado School of Law as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy. He has lectured throughout the state of Colorado on such diverse topics as post-conviction (Rule 35c) litigation, the insanity defense, cross-examination of expert witnesses, mental health issues in criminal law, and habitual criminal litigation.

Throughout his life Patrick Mulligan has remained a competitive athlete, successful in competitive running, swimming, and triathlons, as well as being a champion tennis player. For years he has played competitive basketball and also enjoys bicycling, skiing and hiking.

Miscellaneous Information:

• President, Phi Delta Phi, 1985-1986
• Recognized in Colorado Super Lawyers, 2006, 2007 and 2008
• Recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Colorado, American Trial Lawyers Association, 2007
• University of Colorado Law Review, 1985-1987
• Author: "Unlimited PACcess to the Political Process," 57 U. Colo. L. Review 759, Summer, 1986
• Associate, Clanahan, Tanner, Downing, and Knowlton, 1987-1988
• Deputy State Public Defender, Trial and Appellate Divisions, 1988-1994
• Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado, 2003

Reported Cases:

• Robles v. People, 811 P.2d 804 (Colo. 1991)
• People v. Portley, 857 P.2d 459 (Colo. App. 1992)
• People v. Fox, 862 P.2d 1000 (Colo. App. 1993)
• People in the Interest of A.W. 982 P.2d 842 (Colo. 1999)
• Ardolino v. People, 69 P.3d 73 (Colo.2003)