Connecticut Superior Court Judge Suspended for DUI Tirade

Connecticut Superior Court Judge E. Curtissa R. Cofield was suspended from the bench for 8 months during her hearing before the Judicial Review Council on Monday. Back in October Cofield was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Glastonbury police headquarters.

Here is where she acted out of character, according to her supporters, and used racial slurs against her arresting officers. While it seems public opinion of Judge Cofield was generally positive, there are many who think her suspension is too lenient.

According to the New Haven Register, the judge had a blood alcohol content of .17, twice the legal limit in Connecticut, at the time of her arrest. She refused to sign documents and called the police names. She insulted their intelligence and told them she was smarter than them.

Judge Cofield was confirmed to the bench in 1991 as the state’s first black female judge. She has served since that time and maintained a clean record of applying and interpreting the law. When she went in front of the council on Monday, the room was filled, mostly with her supporters.

Like all humans, it seems Cofield was going through some stress at the time of the arrest. She had recently lost her father, her mother’s home had burned down, and she was experiencing marital problems. While any one of these could cause undue stress, certainly all three seemed to push her over the edge.

The council could have suspended her for only 60 days or up to 1 year. They also could have asked that the state Supreme Court permanently remove her from the bench. They, instead, settled on an 8 month suspension for this behavior that they determined violated the code of judicial behavior of 5 counts.

Although the article doesn’t reference if the judge was convicted on her DUI charge, there are several punishments she could be facing for that criminal charge.

In Connecticut a DUI can land you an immediate driver’s license suspension, jail time, and fines. Depending on your record you could face up to 3 years in jail for a DUI charge. If you or someone you know is in need of an experienced DUI attorney in CT, contact us.

Community Interaction Team Makes Drug Arrests and Clean Up West Hartford Streets

The Community Interaction Team (CIT) of the West Hartford Police Department is a proactive police unit dedicated to keeping a close eye on criminal activity in the West Hartford community. From gang activity to drug offenses, these police officers try to keep an upper hand on crime and keep it under control.

Working with local businesses the CIT knows where problems are before they become to big. By capturing the issues before they grow they hope to keep the people and businesses in the community safe. The unit works with the community, not just in it.

As this article points out, in 2008 the CIT made 607 arrests. That number is quite staggering for one team and is either evidence of their effectiveness or evidence of a growing crime problem. More than likely, however, it is a combination of both.

As of late, they have been noticing a growing heroin problem in their arrests and searches. This means more and more drug charges are entering the West Hartford courts. Users and dealers that the majority of the community was not aware of are finding their ways into the courts.
Many of these drug offenders go unnoticed by the public because that’s the way they want it. They don’t want to draw attention to themselves for fear of embarrassment and more so, fear of criminal charges. Their arrests often end in not only drug charges but theft, DUI, or other assorted criminal offenses.

They are right to be scared and to want to lay low. For a first time drug offender in CT, a heroin charge can bring up to 7 years in jail and a $50,000 fine. As repeat charges occur, they risk more and more as the sentences grow.

With the help of an experienced defense attorney, someone charged for the first time may be able to reach a plea agreement with the prosecution and possibly even only serve probation. This, of course, depends on many factors. If you or someone you know is facing charges like this, be certain to consult with an attorney who is experienced with the drug laws of Connecticut.