[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish Judge Sanborn cited for DWI in Thursday wreck, cops say

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Judge Sanborn cited for DWI in Thursday wreck, cops say
By Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune 
April 29, 2010, 5:24PM

Judge Jacques SanbornSt. Bernard Parish Judge Jacques Sanborn was cited for
DWI early Thursday after crashing his Dodge Charger into another vehicle in
Arabi, authorities said.

State Police Trooper Melissa Matey said Sanborn, 60, of Chalmette, was
brought to an area hospital with unspecified injuries after the 3:32 a.m.
crash. He refused to submit to a blood test, but the trooper who responded
to the crash conducted a field sobriety test and smelled alcohol, Matey, a
Troop B spokeswoman, said.

Because his injuries required medical attention, Matey said the trooper
"released'' the judge on a DWI citation. Matey said she did not know if
Sanborn was admitted to the hospital, but that the trooper understood "he
was going to be there for an extended period of time.''

She said Sanborn, who was transported to the hospital by Acadian Ambulance,
refused a blood test at the hospital. Matey said Sanborn failed a field test
in which the person is asked to follow the trooper's hand with just his
eyes, but that the trooper could not conduct tests in which the person is
asked to stand on one leg or walk in a line and turn because of the judge's
injuries.

Matey said she did not know which hospital the judge was brought to. Matey
said a copy of the incident report would not be available for several days.

She said Sanborn, who was driving his 2006 Charger east on West Judge Perez
Drive, tried to turn north on Rowley. When he did, he pulled into the path
of a westbound vehicle on West Judge Perez Drive. There were two people in
the other vehicle. Matey said both refused medical attention at the scene.

Sanborn was also cited for failure to yield, Matey said.

Efforts to contact Sanborn for comment Thursday were not successful.

Sanborn has held the Division E seat on the 34th Judicial District court
since 2000. He was re-elected without opposition in 2008. He has also served
on the parish's School Board.