Mississippi Judge Karen Sanders Arrested for DUI
DeSoto County Justice Court Judge Karen Sanders was arrested for driving under the influence on December 6, 2025, in Hernando, Mississippi. The Hernando Police Department arrested Sanders after she drove her white Cadillac Escalade into the grass on West Valley Street.
Sanders, who has served on the bench since 1999, presides over misdemeanor cases including traffic violations and DUI cases in District 5. Police charged her with DUI and careless driving following the incident.
Bodycam footage from the arrest shows the traffic stop that led to Sanders' booking at 9:38 PM. She was released just 33 minutes later at 10:11 PM without bond. The judge returned to her judicial duties nine days after the arrest.
Sanders pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2026, with the plea held in abeyance. She received six months probation as part of her sentence. Under the terms of the agreement, the charge will be dismissed and expunged from her record upon successful completion of probation.
The bodycam footage was obtained through a public records request from the Hernando Police Department. The case was processed through Hernando Municipal Court following Sanders' December 2025 arrest.
