Judge denies state Rep. Cherelle Parker’s appeal on DUI charges

The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has denied state Rep. Cherelle Parker’s appeal on charges of driving under the influence. 

The representative, who recently announced plans to run for Philadelphia City Council, will serve 72 hours in jail, pay a $1,000 fine and lose her license for one year. 

A statement from Parker’s attorney, Joseph Kelly, says the following:

State Representative Cherelle Parker has been a committed public servant for over a decade where she has demonstrated a passion for the rule of law. In 2011, [she] was charged with driving under the influence — charges that were initially thrown out in court. After several rounds of appeals, the charges were reinstated, and earlier this week the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ended the appeal process. The Representative respects the court’s decision, and will be complying in full with their decision. She looks forward to putting this incident from four years ago behind her, and will not be commenting further on this matter.

Parker was pulled over by police on April 30, 2011 in Germantown after they spotted her driving a state-issued car the wrong way down a one-way stretch of Haines Street. Parker’s blood-alcohol-level that night was .16 — twice the legal limit — according to police paperwork from the incident.

Charges were initially thrown out by a Philadelphia judge who said at the time the evidence from the two arresting officers was not credible and “impossible” for the court to accept.

The charges were reinstated in 2012 after the State Attorney’s General Office appealed that judge’s decision.

Since then, the courts have undergone several rounds of appeals regarding the charges.