The suspension of Timberlake’s license stems from his refusal to take a breathalyzer test during a traffic stop in the Hamptons in June. Timberlake, who appeared at the hearing via video conference, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The suspension is expected to last for six months.
Additionally, the judge warned Timberlake’s attorney, Ed Burke, with a gag order due to comments he made outside the courtroom last week. Judge Carl Irace stated, “It appears to be an attempt to taint the case before it even starts.”
Burke had previously remarked that the police made “very significant errors” and anticipated the charge would be dismissed. He also maintained that Timberlake was not intoxicated. “He was not drunk,” Burke told reporters. “Justin Timberlake was not drunk.”
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, which is handling the case, described the issue with the paperwork as a “ministerial error” and noted that an amended charging document was filed on July 2. Spokesperson Emily O’Neil clarified in an email, “The facts and circumstances of the case have not been changed or amended.”
Justin Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor, Long Island, on a driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge after refusing to take a chemical test three times. He was charged with the misdemeanor on June 18 after police reported that he ran a stop sign and veered out of his lane. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. when an officer stopped him and determined he was intoxicated, according to court documents.
The documents described Timberlake’s condition at the time: “His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady on his feet, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests.”
Timberlake, 43, told the officer that he had one martini and was following friends home, according to the documents. After being arrested and taken to a police station in nearby East Hampton, he refused to take a breath test.
The 10-time Grammy winner began his career as a young Disney Mouseketeer, rose to fame as part of the boy band NSYNC, and later embarked on a solo recording career in the early 2000s.
