JAMES J. MCHUGH III, who as a Navy officer led a special court of inquiry into North Korea’s capture of the USS Pueblo, died last May in Sacramento, Calif. McHugh was born in Philadelphia and received both his bachelor’s degree and his law degree from Penn, in 1951 and 1954, respectively.

Commissioned to the Naval Reserve in 1955, McHugh was appointed judge advocate general in 1982. He had previously served as deputy judge advocate general of the Navy, and two years as assistant judge advocate general for civil law. While serving in the Navy, McHugh received a number of honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, and the Navy Commendation Medal.

McHugh is best known for handling the USS Pueblo case in which North Korea accused the ship of spying on the country. The crew was held hostage for 11 months after the ship was seized by in 1968. After retiring from the Navy in 1984, McHugh served as associate dean for career development at the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific.

McHugh is survived by his wife, Rita McHugh; two children, Navy Cmdr. James Joseph McHugh IV and Navy Cmdr. Margaret Carlson; and five grandchildren.