Photo Credit: Knoxville News-SentinelKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals judge who pleaded guilty to drunken driving will return to duty next week.
According to The Knoxville News Sentinel, Judge Jerry Lynn Smith, who works out of Nashville, entered a guilty plea Monday to driving under the influence. Knox County General Sessions Court records show Smith was given 48 hours in jail and will lose his driver's license for a year -- the standard punishment for a first-time DUI offender.
In a statement, the 58-year-old Smith apologized to his family, friends and "the people of Tennessee" for his behavior and assured it would not happen again.
A spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the Courts said Smith took a leave of absence after his April 23 arrest and would return to the bench July 1.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
