Superior Court judge admits driving under the influence

By John R. Ellement and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

CONCORD -- Superior Court Judge Christine M. McEvoy admitted today that she drove under the influence of alcohol in April and apologized to family, friends, colleagues, and the "people of the Commonwealth."

Superior Court Judge Christine M. McEvoy

Appearing briefly in Concord District Court, McEvoy acknowledged that there was sufficient evidence to convict her of drunken driving, a common legal tactic that allowed her to avoid a guilty plea.

"I take full responsibly" for drinking and driving on Waltham Street in Lexington on April 15, McEvoy said.

According to a police report, McEvoy's eyes were glassy and bloodshot and her speech was slurred when officers pulled her over. McEvoy admitted drinking a few glasses of wine, according to the report, but she refused to take field sobriety tests or a breath analysis test.

In exchange for her admission, McEvoy had her case continued without finding for a year. If she remains trouble-free, she will not have a conviction on her criminal record. But if she is charged with a new offense, the drunk driving conviction would become active.

McEvoy had to pay a standard set of fines totaling $665, had her driver's license suspended for 225 days, and will be required to participate in a program for first-time drunk drivers.

The Essex district attorney's office handled the case because McEvoy's brother, John, is a top prosecutor in the district attorney's office in Middlesex County, where the offense occurred. Judge David Ricciardone said from the bench today that McEvoy received the same disposition as anyone else accused of a first offense of drunken driving offense at any other courthouse in the state.