When accused drunk drivers ask Massachusetts judges, not juries, to rule on their cases, they receive a not guilty verdict more than 80 percent of the time, according to a Globe Spotlight Team investigation. It is a degree of leniency virtually unsurpassed in the United States, specialists say. And it has public safety officials concerned that the scales of justice for one of the most common crimes are now tipped dangerously out of balance.
Nov. 2, 2012
Change urged for drunken driving cases
Judges in some Massachusetts courts acquit nearly all of the drunk driving defendants who waive their right to a jury trial.
Part 1
For drunk drivers, a habit of judicial leniency
When state judges hear OUI cases without a jury, they acquit the vast majority of defendants, no matter how blatant the alleged offense. It is one more way Massachusetts stands out nationally — for all the wrong reasons — on this crime.
Part 2
A judicial haven for accused drunk drivers
A judicial haven for accused drunk driversPlymouth County’s courts may be the most lenient in OUI trials. Judges hear most cases without a jury and acquit just about everyone, leaving police and victims appalled.
Part 3
Court mismatch makes OUI justice elusive
Lawyers who specialize in defending drunk drivers enjoy huge legal advantages built into state law, and have the ear of some judges prone to favor their arguments, no matter how far-fetched.
Video | The Back Story
Photo gallery
From checkpoints to trial
Scenes from State Police checkpoints and some of the judges involved in the report.
