Sweazea to be chief judge after Fitch accused of DWI
Last Update: 02/14/2005 11:16:24 AM
By: Associated Press
SOCORRO, N.M. (AP) - A petition has been filed with the state Supreme Court to temporarily suspend a judge charged with drunken driving.
Chief District Judge Thomas Fitch is accused of crashing a government van Friday afternoon in Santa Fe.
He was charged with aggravated drunken driving, having an open container in the vehicle and careless driving following the crash.
State District Judge Kevin Sweazea says he and Judge Edmund Kase III have recommended to Fitch that he take an immediate leave of absence. They also want him to seek treatment for alcohol abuse.
Sweazea now is acting chief judge of the district.
Fitch was hospitalized with chest pains and other injuries after the crash.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
He has a nose that beats Clinton's. And wrinkles like cat's whiskers to highlight it.
What's his party affiliation?
Fitch -- until Monday the chief judge of the 7th Judicial District in central New Mexico -- drove a minivan registered to the district off the dead end of the frontage road next to N.M. 599 about 1 p.m. Friday. When sheriff's deputies arrived, the judge, who was wearing a seat belt, appeared unstable on his feet, had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech.