Trial begins for Broward County Judge Cynthia Imperato

Judge accused of DUI rejects plea deal before jury selection

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ā€“ Opening statements began late Wednesday afternoon in the trial of a Broward County judge accused of driving under the influence.

After spending most of the day deciding on a jury, attorneys agreed to six men and women who were chosen to judge the judge.

Judge Cynthia Imperato was arrested on a DUI charge in Boca Raton in November 2013.

Imperato refused to submit to a field-sobriety or Breathalyzer test.

"I'm not doing anything until I talk to my lawyer," she told the arresting officer in a video from a camera mounted on the dashboard of a police car.

Just before jury selection began, Imperato rejected a plea deal offered by the state that called for 12 months of probation, 75 hours of community service, court costs and loss of driving privileges for six months.

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