North Carolina DWI News

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May 16th, 2005

"DWI acquittal rate higher in three NC coastal counties"

The Charlotte Observer has reported that judges in three North Carolina coastal counties acquitted suspected DWI offenders at a rate more than double the state average over a period of more than four years.

According to the newspaper report, a group of prominent lawyers in Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties backed candidates for judgeships who knew they would acquit their DWI defendants. In more then 87 percent of trials, District Court judges in those counties acquitted DWI suspects compared to state records showing the state acquittal rate is just 39 percent.

There are at least two judges who were reportedly pressured by attorneys to acquit DWI clients.