Jackson city judge to keep job after DWI conviction

JACKSON, Mo. -- A Jackson municipal judge recently convicted of driving while intoxicated will keep his job, but he must recuse himself from any cases that involve alcohol-related offenses.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander said Wednesday in a news release that Judge J. Patrick O'Loughlin is "an excellent judge" and deserves to remain on the bench.

O'Loughlin, 51, pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge. He was cited May 4 after trying to avoid a sobriety checkpoint on U.S. 61 near Center Junction in Cape Girardeau.

The judge's blood-alcohol content at the time was 0.094. The legal limit in Missouri is 0.08.

"It has been decided that in order to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, Judge O'Loughlin will recuse himself from any involvement in hearing contested cases involving alcohol-related charges," Sander wrote.

Sander said those cases will be handled by assistant judge Michelle Spooler.

"As previously noted," O'Loughlin said in a written statement, "I accept full responsibility for my actions and make no excuses for them. After consulting with the mayor and other city officials, it is my intent to continue to serve as municipal judge at this time."

May 4 incident

According to police reports, highway patrol troopers were conducting a DWI checkpoint just east of Interstate 55 on May 4 when they spotted a black BMW abruptly turn off the road.

The report said O'Loughlin failed a field sobriety test and admitted to trying to avoid the checkpoint because he had been drinking at a wedding reception.

The case was heard in Benton, Mo., on a change of venue, and Associate Circuit Judge David Mann sentenced O'Loughlin to one year of probation, suspended. He was also ordered to submit to an alcohol evaluation and to attend follow-up counseling recommended after the evaluation.

O'Loughlin, who also has a private law practice in Cape Girardeau, has been involved with the municipal court in Jackson since 1991, first as interim municipal judge. He was appointed alternate municipal judge in May 1996 and was appointed to the top job in May 1997.