Chicago DUI lawyer is surprised by Traffic Court Judge's DUI

Judge Albert Purham, Jr. was reassigned from Traffic Court to Divorce Court after he was charged with a DUI last week. Unlike the DUI arrests of Judge Sheila McGinnis and Judge David Hall he also submitted to a breath alcohol content (B.A.C.) test.

June 30, Peoria, IL

A Peoria County judge was arrested in Washington early Saturday morning for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Associate Judge Albert Purham Jr., 52, was ticketed on charges of DUI, having a blood-alcohol content of more than 0.08 percent and improper lane usage. He was released on bond after he posted $100 cash and his driver's license at the Washington Police Department. The judge will appear in court on July 21.

To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Chief Peoria County Circuit Judge Stuart Borden said on Monday it was likely a judge would be brought in from another circuit to handle the matter.

Borden on Monday moved Purham from his position as a traffic court judge to one of the county's two divorce courts, saying "I felt that he should not be sitting in traffic court or a criminal court for that matter until this is resolved."

The reason I'm surprised by Judge Purham's arrest for DUI is because he has sentenced several people for DUI.

From Christian Gunslinger:

On Monday, July 3, 2006, page B2 the Peoria Journal Star published the dispositions of “Driving Under the Influence” cases that were handled in the court room of Judge Albert Purham Jr. Thirteen cases were handled by the judge. In one case the defendant was found not guilty, in one case the charge was amended/reduced, and in the other 11 cases the defendants were found guilty and received some type of punishment.

I wonder why Judge Purham decided to submit to BAC testing? I suspect he will be pleading guilty to a DUI.