Last November, police arrested a former judge when they noticed signs of drunk driving. Since the arrest, the story has made national headlines. According to WSVN, the courts found her guilty late last month for driving under the influence and reckless driving.
If you need a criminal attorney in Fort Lauderdale, we can help. At Leader & Leader P.A., we have extensive experience in criminal law, and we always put our clients first. Call us today at 954-523-2020, and let us know what we can do for you.
Judge Sentenced Following DUI Charges
Because the former judge had a prior conviction—she had another DUI back in 1988—the state wanted her to receive a fairly harsh penalty; however, a judge sentenced her to 12 months of probation, a 12-month license suspension, 20 days of house arrest, community service and more than $2,500 in court costs. The state initially wanted her to spend 30 days in jail, but the defense fought that motion. According to the officer’s testimony, the judge was driving with a level of impairment that was both severe and egregious.
Jurors were deliberating at the courthouse until midnight, and they asked to view more footage of the traffic stop, as well as of the judge at the police station before they reached a verdict. During the trial, her defense attorney argued there was no evidence whatsoever that she was even drunk.
Prosecutors claimed the defendant flashed her law enforcement personnel badge to avoid arrest, though the arrest team says that never happened. The courts have not released any word as to whether the judge will be able to get her position back in the future.
Florida Polo Mogul Gets 16 Years for DUI Manslaughter at Retrial
According to the Daily News, a Florida multimillionaire and renowned polo mogul who crashed his Bentley into another car, pushing it into a canal and drowning the 23-year-old driver, received the same sentencing at his retrial as he did at the original trial. The court convicted the defendant of DUI manslaughter last month for the death of a University of Central Florida engineering graduate in 2010. This was his second conviction, as juror misconduct in the original trial resulted in a retrial.
The retrial yielded the same results, though. The presiding judge sentenced the man to 16 years in prison after the judge claimed he did not learn anything new in the retrial. In addition to his prison sentence, the man must pay for his own jail costs. The judge expects him to pay $50 per day while he is behind bars, which totals almost $300,000 for the 16-year sentence. The defendant must also reimburse the State Attorney’s Office for the investigation and prosecution costs, which amounts to nearly $90,000.
If you need a criminal lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, don’t wait. Call Leader & Leader P.A. at 954-523-2020 to arrange an initial consultation with an expert criminal attorney.
