BEVERLY HILLS : Judge’s Drunk-Driving Case Ends in 2nd Mistrial

A second mistrial was declared Wednesday in the drunk-driving case of Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Edward L. Davenport, a former prosecutor who once won a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that helped establish procedures for trying drunk-driving cases.

The vote was 11 to 1 for conviction. Jury members said the dissenting juror refused to be swayed during 2 1/2 days of sometimes angry deliberations.

Throughout the 10-day trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. Katherine Mader argued that the 64-year-old judge relied on his expertise in the drunk-driving law to frustrate any prosecution, at one point dumping an evidence jar of urine into a toilet.

But defense attorney Jacob Adajian said that Davenport refused to cooperate because he knew that the arrest was flawed by police bungling.

“We’re lucky we have a jury system. At least we had one bright juror,” said Davenport, who plans to retire this summer after 24 years on the bench.

Beverly Hills Municipal Court Judge Charles G. Rubin told both sides to come back next week to determine if there will be a third trial.