Justin Timberlake’s DUI Case Takes a Detour to Sag Harbor
Justin Timberlake’s world tour may have taken him to exotic locations, but it’s his trip to Sag Harbor, New York that has made headlines recently. The pop star’s driving privileges were suspended in New York while he fights a drunken-driving charge.
Justin Timberlake Pleads Not Guilty
On Friday, Timberlake appeared in local court via video conference and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor for the second time. The celebrity saga has brought crowds to Sag Harbor, with reporters, camera crews, and paparazzi descending on the town to attend court appearances in the case’s early days.
The Case’s History
Timberlake was arrested and charged with drunken driving in June after swerving between lanes and running a stop sign in a residential neighborhood in Sag Harbor. An arrest report said that Timberlake’s breath had a strong odor of alcohol and that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He told police officers he had drunk "one martini" before getting in his car, according to the police report.
The Meme That Won’t Die
The supposed exchange between Timberlake and an officer has been repurposed in 2024 fashion into a near-infinite variety of contexts. In the meme, Timberlake mutters something about the arrest ruining his tour, and the officer asks, "What tour?" The meme has taken on a life of its own, and its ubiquity has added to the celebrity’s notoriety.
The Courtroom Scene
On Friday, Timberlake’s expression was serious and unreadable as he appeared on twin television screens in a small courtroom on Main Street, calling in from Europe. His lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., has maintained that Timberlake was not intoxicated when the stop occurred. Prosecutors and Burke will come before the judge again next week to discuss a proposed trial schedule. Timberlake’s next appearance is tentatively scheduled for September 15, and the judge said he would decide soon whether Timberlake must appear in person.
Consequences of a Guilty Verdict
If Timberlake is found guilty, he could face a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time, according to New York law. The trial has created a minor media frenzy in the Hamptons town, a normally serene vacation destination for New York’s moneyed set. Hours before the court building opened Friday, reporters, photographers, and camera crews began lining up, hoping to secure one of the 30 seats.
A Gag Order?
After the court appearance, Burke told reporters that he wouldn’t comment. When asked if he was worried the judge would place him under a gag order, Burke smiled slightly and replied that he wasn’t. "I don’t see that happening," he said. "We all have jobs to do, and we’re obligated to zealously defend our clients, and that’s what I plan on doing."
The American Hotel
Just a few doors down from the courthouse, waiters in shirts and ties set tables and adjusted chairs on the porch of the American Hotel’s restaurant, the very establishment that Timberlake had patronized before his arrest. Locals and vacationers strolled past in the early morning breeze, walking dogs and pushing strollers.
FAQs
Q: What did Justin Timberlake do?
A: Justin Timberlake was arrested and charged with drunken driving in June after swerving between lanes and running a stop sign in a residential neighborhood in Sag Harbor.
Q: What happened in court on Friday?
A: Timberlake appeared in local court via video conference and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor for the second time.
Q: What is the possible consequence of a guilty verdict?
A: If Timberlake is found guilty, he could face a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time, according to New York law.
Q: Has the trial created a media frenzy?
A: Yes, the trial has created a minor media frenzy in the Hamptons town, a normally serene vacation destination for New York’s moneyed set.
Q: Will Timberlake have to appear in court in person?
A: The judge will decide soon whether Timberlake must appear in person at his next court appearance, tentatively scheduled for September 15.
