Broward Judge Pleads No Contest To Reckless Driving Charge

FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Broward circuit judge was sentenced to three months probation after she pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge.

Broward Circuit Judge Lynn Rosenthal, 56, was not present in the courtroom Tuesday, her attorney entered the plea on her behalf.

Last May, Rosenthal reportedly clipped a parked police car and drove into the entry gate of the judges' parking lot behind the courthouse.

Rosenthal was given a breathalyzer test, but no alcohol was detected. She said she had taken an Ambien sleeping pill the night before and blamed her doctor.

"It is important for the public to know this accident was the result of an involuntary overdose and adverse drug reaction I had to Zolpidem Tartrate ER (extended release), the generic form of Ambien CR. This involuntary overdose was caused because my doctor mistakenly prescribed me twice the amount of Ambien CR recommended by the FDA," Rosenthal said in a statement.

After a review of the evidence, the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office decided not to file a DUI charge against Rosenthal. Instead, they opted to file one single count of reckless driving, a misdemeanor traffic offense.

In addition to probation, Rosenthal was sentenced to 25 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution.