Judge suspended for drunken court behavior

LONDON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A 54-year-old judge in Britain should not practice the law for six months for appearing intoxicated in court and acting inappropriately, a tribunal says.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in London offered its ruling after Deputy District Judge Esther Cunningham pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a 2006 incident in Grantham Magistrates' Court, The Daily Telegraph said Tuesday.

Cunningham had appeared in court on Nov. 8, 2006, to defend her cousin in a legal matter.

George Marriott for the tribunal said during the hearing, Cunningham allegedly swore at an usher and used an obscenity to describe the opposing prosecutor.

"The respondent forcibly kissed another solicitor and aggressively demanded to know the identity of other people within the courtroom," Marriott alleged.

"She behaved as if drunk and refused to sit down until encouraged to do so by her assistant."

Cunningham's attorney admitted his client had consumed some brandy on the day in question to steady her nerves. The attorney also said Cunningham acknowledges she has a problem with alcohol, the Telegraph reported.