Retired Durham judge faces DWI charge

The state Attorney General's Office is handling a DWI case against retired Superior Court Judge David Q. LaBarre, who was stopped by a Durham police officer near his home earlier this month.

The Durham County District Attorney’s Office asked the state to take over the case against LaBarre, who served on District Court and Superior Court in the county, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Roy Cooper confirmed Tuesday

LaBarre, 69, was elected to the bench in 1994 and retired in 2002, according to his biography from the North Carolina Academy of Superior Court Mediators, where his services are offered for a range of legal cases. He received his law degree from UNC Law School in 1972.

LaBarre is now an emergency judge who can be assigned to courts anywhere in the state if needed.

The Durham officer pulled over LaBarre about 11 p.m. on Dec. 16, police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said.

He was issued a citation for driving while impaired and scheduled for an appearance in Durham Traffic Court on Jan. 22, court records show.

LaBarre is listed as living in an apartment complex on Millspring Drive, off Croasdaile Farm Parkway.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Retired Durham judge faces DWI charge."