About Mr. Patrick Nelson
Mr. Patrick Nelson Leduc built a career that crosses military service, public defense and private practice. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science and social studies education from Florida State University in 1987, completed his Juris Doctor at Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in 1992, and later earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2011.
Early in his career he served as a judge advocate in the United States Army, beginning in 1988. That period established a long association with military justice and appellate matters. After active service he moved into civilian roles that included a stint as an assistant felony public defender in 2001 with the Law Offices of Julianne Holt. He worked as an associate at Merlin Law Group around 2010 before opening his own practice.
He founded the Law Offices of Patrick Leduc, P.A., where he has acted as principal counsel since 2011. His practice is grounded in courtroom experience from both sides of the docket. He has argued matters in military and federal fora and handled a mix of trial and appellate work. The record shows admissions and appearances in a range of tribunals, including the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the 11th Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Beyond casework he has been active in his local legal community. He has been a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association since 2003. His civic and community ties include long-standing membership at Idlewild Baptist Church dating to 1992 and an emeritus role as a state referee with the United States Soccer Federation–FYSA beginning in 1982. He also served on the Citizen’s Advisory Council to the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization from 2004 to 2010.
Colleagues describe him as steady under pressure and comfortable in appellate settings, where precise briefing and knowledge of procedure matter. He brings military courtroom experience to civilian practice and maintains familiarity with both military and federal appellate rules. He splits time between trial preparation and appellate briefing, drawing on the procedural demands of each.
As principal of his practice he handles a range of criminal and military justice matters and represents clients in both trial and appellate proceedings. He currently practices criminal defense and military law at the Law Offices of Patrick Leduc, P.A.
