West Palm Beach Attorney Arrested: DUI

 

There was a rear end accident the other Friday in downtown West Palm Beach.  The investigating police officer smelled alcohol and noted the rear end driver had glassy and bloodshot eyes.  He refused to be tested.  The driver was arrested and it turned out to be none other than an attorney who once ran for circuit court judge. 

 

The story is here. 

 

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Missouri Attorney Arrested For Smuggling Drugs

Abusing drugs and alcohol is one way attorneys may get into trouble with their local bar associations.  Smuggling them is another way.  That’s what happened to a Missouri attorney.  He was arrested last month for trying to smuggle drugs into his the Cole County jail.

The story is here. 

Here's a video on how others have smuggled drugs into prison. 

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Drunk Attorney In Court Jailed For Contempt

What happens when attorneys shows up for court in Nelson County, Kentucky having had too much to drink? They get thrown in jail for contempt. At least that is what happened to one attorney in this report from WLBT.

The incident occurred in September when the attorney showed up at court representing the plaintiff in a domestic violence case.  During the hearing the Judge because suspicious and ordered the attorney to be tested for alcohol.  When the results came back positive, the judge had the attorney jailed for contempt of court. 

Alcohol abuse and addiction is quite serious when it is an attorney who has the problem.   The attorney’s conduct may not only bring discredit upon himself and the legal profession, but his actions may also put his client’s interests in jeopardy. 

 

WLBT.com - Jackson, MS

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Another DUI Lawyer Alert

We post these news items for educational purposes.  Our goal is to highlight the fact that attorneys suffer from substance abuse problems at a rate higher than the general public.  That is why most states require attorneys to receive at least one hour of substance abuse prevention as part of their continuing legal education requirements. 

Unfortunately, our latest example is Nebraska attorney, Robert Gage.  Gage allegedly had a blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit when he rammed a car ahead of him and then fled on foot to get away.  The driver of the car he hit claims that he had to tackle Gage to prevent his escape.  The story is here. 

Here’s the rub.  Gage dedicates a portion of his practice to defending DUI drivers.   See another excellent blog post about the incident here.

Rob Gage DUI Lawyer Lincoln/ Omaha NE - The most amazing home videos are here

 

 

 

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DUI Judge: “Do As I Say, Not As I Do”

Again, as this story demonstrates, alcohol abuse does not discriminate on any basis - race, gender or class. A Nevada judge from Washoe County learned this lesson the hard way. Reno police arrested Buffy Jo Dreiling on DUI charges after she crashed her car. Fortunately, there are no injuries. Here’s the rub - Dreiling presides over the Family Drug Court. According to its website, “[t]he mission of the Family Drug Court is through a collaborative effort, to ensure a child has a safe and nurturing environment by focusing on healthy and sober parenting and permanency planning through family reunification.” The story is here. Hmm. According to the Nevada State Bar’s website, the continuing legal education requirement for Nevada lawyers is 12 hours per year, including 2 hours of ethics. I see no requirement for classes on the prevention of substance abuse. Maybe there should be.

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California Attorney May Lose License – Allegedly Drunk In Court

Beer

This is unfortunate. Last May a California attorney was accused of being drunk in court. The attorney, Michelle Winspur, is a criminal defense attorney who must now answer to the California State Bar. The story is here. Ms. Winspur denies the allegations.

Sadly, the above story reports other alcohol related incidents in which she has been involved. This story here reports more, including a missed court appearance and alleged DUI. See the video here.

Attorneys in California who need help with substance abuse issues may contact the Lawyer Assistance Program(LAP). LAP was established by the California Legislature. It is a confidential service of the State Bar of California, staffed by professionals with many years of experience.

LAP provides assistance to attorneys whose personal or professional life is being detrimentally impacted by substance abuse, other compulsive behaviors, and/or mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety.

LAP includes: individual counseling, expert assessment and consultation, assistance with arrangements for intensive treatment, monitored continuing care, random lab testing, professionally facilitated support groups, and peer support groups.

The program also works with family members, friends, colleagues, judges and other court staff who wish to obtain help for an impaired attorney. Financial assistance is available so that no one is prevented from participating in the program due to financial limitations.

Attorneys may self-refer into this program or may be referred as the result of an investigation or disciplinary proceeding. Participation in the LAP is strictly and absolutely confidential. No information concerning participation in the program can be released without the attorney’s prior written consent.

More can be found here.

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Take the "Alcohol Myths and Facts" Quiz by WebMd

The Drunk Lawyer Blog suggests you check out a fun and fast quiz offered by WebMd.

The quiz is entitled “Alcohol Myths and Facts” and only takes a minute. After each question you will be told whether you answered correctly, and given an explanation. You will also be given a score upon completion. We won’t spoil it by giving away any answers, but suffices to say that what you learn may surprise you!

The link to the quiz is here.

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