Texas Appellate Judge|Arrested on DUI Charge

MCALLEN, Texas (CN) - A Texas appellate judge tried to wriggle out of a drunk driving arrest by showing her badge and telling police they were "ruining her life and career," police records state.

Judge Nora Longoria with the 13th District Court of Appeals was arrested early July 12 after she was stopped in McAllen for driving 69 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to a police report .

Longoria allegedly had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

"I observed the driver's movements and noticed that she was opening her wallet to display a medal badge that was inside," Officer Jesus Regalado wrote in his report. "I did not ask the driver what her profession was as she began to tell me that she was a judge."

Longoria proceeded to flunk a field sobriety test and when told she was under arrest "began to get emotional and refused to be handcuffed," the report states.

She asked to speak to a supervisor and Regalado told her she would face resisting-arrest charges if she did not want to be handcuffed. Officer Oscar Garcia arrived and persuaded Longoria to be handcuffed with her hands in front of her "to make her feel at ease" with the situation. Garcia said she was "uncooperative" when he arrived at the scene.

Longoria allegedly asked the officers what they would do if she resisted.

"She asked if we would use force and drag her," according to the report. "The arresting officer responded that we would use necessary force. The female then stated OK, then drag me. I told her again it was not to her benefit to resist. She in fact did not resist once the officer initiated the arrest."

A third officer, Roel Garza, said Longoria repeatedly asked to be let go to return to her nearby home.

"I later observed Ms. Longoria begin to cry as she stated 'you are going to ruin my life, I worked hard for 25 years to be where I'm at today,'" Garza wrote. "Ms. Longoria advised she was a judge. While making contact with Ms. Longoria, I observed her to have unsteady balance, red bloodshot eyes and slurred speech when she spoke."

Longoria declined to submit a breath sample in jail and was released on bond.

The 13th District Court did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Longoria was elected to the court in 2012. It handles criminal and civil appeals for 20 counties in South Texas. It is based in Corpus Christi and Edinburg and is one of 14 intermediate appellate courts in the state.

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