Broward drug court judge has meltdown, headed to rehab

Gisele Pollack enrolled in program with Dr Rick Seely

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ā€“ A Broward Circuit judge who has run misdemeanor drug court for years says she's enrolled in an intensive addiction treatment program.

Judge Gisele Pollack on Thursday told Local 10 she entered the program with Dr. Rick Seely in Weston.

"I'm a good judge and I'm going to ask you to please work with me," she said.

Pollack, who has battled alcohol and drug addictions in the past, said she also suffers from depression.

"You gotta remain vigilant," she said.

Pollack had an emotional breakdown and walked off the bench on Tuesday, sources told Local 10.

"She was really upset and she just wasn't herself," said attorney Eric Schwartzreich, a long-time friend of the judge.

Schwartzreich met with her afterwards and now represents her.

"She's going through some personal demons, personal tragedy. Recently, she lost her mother," he said.

Chief Judge Peter Weinstein has allowed Pollack to return to work on the drug court while she undergoes rehabilitation.

"If this causes the people to not have faith and not have trust in what goes on in that drug courtroom, then she will have to step aside," said public defender Howard Finkelstein. "My hope is is people will wrap their ever-loving arms around Judge Pollack just as she has wrapped her arms around thousands of people."

Pollack will have two weeks off for the holidays before she returns to the bench.