Judge’s Drunk Driving Trial Set for Oct. 7

The misdemeanor drunk driving trial for Beverly Hills Municipal Court Judge Edward L. Davenport, who as a city attorney helped establish procedures for prosecuting drunk driving suspects, has been scheduled for Oct. 7.

Davenport, 63, was arrested May 1 after he was involved in a rear-end collision. He refused to take a field sobriety test and, at the police station, dumped a urine sample into the toilet, according to police reports. Jacob Abajian, Davenport’s attorney, said there is little proof to indicate that his client was drunk.

While setting Davenport’s trial date, Beverly Hills Municipal Court Judge Elden S. Fox told both sides that he would step down if there were any objections to his hearing the case. Fox, a former city attorney, said he had appeared in Davenport’s court on numerous occasions.