Second Florida Judge Arrested for DUI, and Other DUI-Attorney News
Last month, the state suspended judge Gisele Pollack without pay after she failed a field-sobriety test. The news came as a shock to Floridians, especially because Pollack presided over substance-abuse court. This week, another judge faces a DUI charge, although her situation is very different.
NBC News reports that judge Lynn Rosenthal was pulling into the parking lot at her courthouse when she struck an unmarked police cruiser. Rather than stopping her car, police say that she tried to pull into the lot but struck the gate instead.
Police officers rushed to the car as the judge repeatedly backed up and struck the gate. Officers finally managed to gain the judge’s attention and asked her to step out of the vehicle.
They asked her for her license and registration, and noticed that she had difficulty keeping her balance and slurred her speech. Based on her appearance and actions, they administered a field-sobriety test, which she failed.
When they asked her about the accident, she said that she took a sleeping pill the night before, claiming that it must still be impairing her.
The Police Arrested Her for DUI, but Her Breath Tests Revealed She Wasn’t Drunk
Police administered two separate breath tests; Both returned 0 percent blood alcohol content. That wasn’t the only bizarre part of the arrest.
According to the police report, Rosenthal told officers that another driver nearly struck her car on the interstate. To prove it, she showed them a video on her phone. Officers say that she used her phone to record the video, which only depicted her vehicle swerving between the lanes of the interstate.
Her case is eerily similar to another recent DUI arrest. Last year, officers charged Kerry Kennedy, the late Robert Kennedy’s daughter, with a DUI after she swerved into a tractor-trailer and failed a roadside test.
Kennedy also tested negative for alcohol and blamed her impairment on a sleep aid. A jury recently acquitted her of the DUI charges.
If you face DUI charges in Fort Myers, you’ll need to find an experienced DUI attorney to protect your rights in the courtroom. At the Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb, P.A., we are dedicated to protecting our clients’ interests in court.
To learn more about our services or to speak with a Fort Myers DUI attorney, call us today at 866-949-0888.
Judge Finds School Board Member Guilty in DUI Case
The Alternative Press reports that Joyce Petrauskas faced a DUI charge last year after an officer stopped her for weaving between lanes of traffic. The police report claims that she smelled of alcohol, and her eyes were glassy.
Police also measured her blood alcohol content at 0.143 percent, which is approximately double the legal limit.
It was Petrauskas’ first offense, so the judge ordered her to pay a fine, as well as court costs. It made the news again, though, because she claims that the DUI arrest never happened in response to an effort to force her to resign.
If you’re looking for an experienced DUI attorney in Fort Myers, don’t hesitate to call us. During the past 15 years, we’ve represented many DUI defendants, and we are passionate about protecting our clients.
To arrange a consultation with an attorney, call us today at 866-949-0888.
