LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge ordered a blood-alcohol test for a defense lawyer who was slurring his words, then declared a mistrial after declaring him too tipsy to argue a kidnapping case.
”I don’t think you can tell a straight story because you are intoxicated,” the judge told Joseph Caramango as she declared a mistrial for his client.
Caramango, 41, acknowledged in court that he was drinking the previous night, but maintained he was not drunk. If convicted, his client faces life in prison.
”I don’t believe I’ve committed any ethical violation,” Caramango said Tuesday, disputing the accuracy of the breath-alcohol test. ”If it proved anything, it proved I was not intoxicated.”
Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt announced Caramango had a blood-alcohol level of 0.075 percent. Nevada’s legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers is 0.08 percent.
Details here from the AP via the New York Times.
UPDATE: Oh, Jesus. CourtTV has full coverage — ‘Dazed and confused’ Vegas lawyer causes mistrial after showing up to court drunk — including video. The video segments are very long, and beyond painful to watch. I recommend it. (via FBK)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge ordered a blood-alcohol test for a defense lawyer who was slurring his words, then declared a mistrial after declaring him too tipsy to argue a kidnapping case.
”I don’t think you can tell a straight story because you are intoxicated,” the judge told Joseph Caramango as she declared a mistrial for his client.
Caramango, 41, acknowledged in court that he was drinking the previous night, but maintained he was not drunk. If convicted, his client faces life in prison.
”I don’t believe I’ve committed any ethical violation,” Caramango said Tuesday, disputing the accuracy of the breath-alcohol test. ”If it proved anything, it proved I was not intoxicated.”
Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt announced Caramango had a blood-alcohol level of 0.075 percent. Nevada’s legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers is 0.08 percent.
Details here from the AP via the New York Times.
UPDATE: Oh, Jesus. CourtTV has full coverage — ‘Dazed and confused’ Vegas lawyer causes mistrial after showing up to court drunk — including video. The video segments are very long, and beyond painful to watch. I recommend it. (via FBK)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge ordered a blood-alcohol test for a defense lawyer who was slurring his words, then declared a mistrial after declaring him too tipsy to argue a kidnapping case.
”I don’t think you can tell a straight story because you are intoxicated,” the judge told Joseph Caramango as she declared a mistrial for his client.
Caramango, 41, acknowledged in court that he was drinking the previous night, but maintained he was not drunk. If convicted, his client faces life in prison.
”I don’t believe I’ve committed any ethical violation,” Caramango said Tuesday, disputing the accuracy of the breath-alcohol test. ”If it proved anything, it proved I was not intoxicated.”
Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt announced Caramango had a blood-alcohol level of 0.075 percent. Nevada’s legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers is 0.08 percent.
Details here from the AP via the New York Times.
UPDATE: Oh, Jesus. CourtTV has full coverage — ‘Dazed and confused’ Vegas lawyer causes mistrial after showing up to court drunk — including video. The video segments are very long, and beyond painful to watch. I recommend it. (via FBK)
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