Police say a county judge based in Pittsburgh was so drunk she fell over following a traffic stop and has been charged with drunken driving.
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Christine Ward has declined to comment on the charges filed Wednesday. They stem from a traffic stop by state police on Route 28 in O'Hara Township about 5:30 p.m.
An off-duty trooper stopped Ward after seeing her driving erratically, and a uniformed trooper who arrived found her "incoherent." Asked whether she had anything to drink Ward said, "I did. Too much." Police say she refused a blood test.
Besides DUI, Ward also faces careless diving and other moving violations, according to court records.
President Judge Jeffrey Manning said Ward won't be reassigned while her criminal case is pending because she handles only civil lawsuits.
Ward was appointed by then-Gov. Ed Rendell in February 2003.
