Lawyer says judge accused of DUI had concussion
The attorney COLUMBUS — for a Franklin County judge accused of driving while intoxicated says the judge had suffered a serious concussion hours before her arrest.
Brad Koffel is representing Franklin County Domestic Relations/Juvenile Court Judge Monica Hawkins in Fairfield County Municipal Court.
Hawkins was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence after a traffic stop on Jan. 31 in Pickerington.
Koffel said in a statement emailed to the Dispatch that Hawkins has no recollection of suffering “multiple injuries” sustained hours prior to her arrest.
“She suffered a serious concussion and has bruising on her face, head and torso,” Koffel wrote. “She has very little recall of the entire evening. We are still investigating the several unaccounted for hours leading up to her arrest.”
Hawkins was pulled over by Pickerington police around 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 31 after another driver called to report an erratic driver.
Dash camera video from the traffic stop shows Hawkins denying that she consumed any alcohol and denying having any injuries to her head.
Officer Mercedes Gavins, who responded to the scene with Sgt. Chad Wallace, called for a paramedic to examine Hawkins because of what she said in her report was a “large knot” on her forehead.
The video shows Hawkins refusing to be examined by the paramedics and telling Gavins the head injury did not affect her ability to drive.
Hawkins was visibly unsteady on her feet while completing several field sobriety tests recorded on the dash camera video.
After being arrested, Hawkins declined to give a breath sample. Officers obtained a search warrant for Hawkins’ blood to determine her blood-alcohol level.
The police report indicates that Hawkins refused to willingly give a blood sample after the warrant was obtained and OhioHealth security officers had to hold her down.
The results of the blood test were not available as of Thursday morning.
Koffel said Hawkins’ behavior on the video is “bizarre and completely uncharacteristic of her 54 years of life.”
“She is extremely grateful that the other motorist called for assistance and that no other motorists were involved,” Koffel wrote.
Hawkins has returned to the bench and is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Feb. 14.