Md. Judge On Leave After Drinking In Violation
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- A Maryland state judge convicted last year in a drunken-driving accident says he is taking an indefinite leave of absence after violating the terms of a reprimand by drinking alcohol.
Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone said Friday he is considering retiring before reaching his mandatory retirement age of 70 next March.
Boone says the state Commission on Judicial Disabilities contacted him April 11 about a reported violation of his January agreement to abstain from alcohol.
Boone says he acknowledged the violation and agreed to take some leave time to deal with stress factors that include personal and family medical issues.
Boone says he passed all the alcohol breath tests he was required to take before presiding in court under terms of his reprimand.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
