Pa. judge charged with DUI, falls over during stop

PITTSBURGH — 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.

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.