Justin Timberlake was “not intoxicated” when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Sag Harbor, New York, his lawyer asserted Friday following a court hearing on the matter.
The case, which has drawn considerable public attention, was reviewed by Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace on Friday, July 26. Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke Jr., filed a motion requesting the dismissal of the charges, citing alleged errors in the arresting officer’s paperwork. Burke’s request for dismissal follows Timberlake’s arrest on June 18, when he was charged with DWI, as well as citations for running a stop sign and failure to maintain his lane.
Justice Irace agreed to consider Burke’s motion but ruled that Timberlake must be re-arraigned on the misdemeanor charge on August 2, 2024. This next hearing will require the use of corrected documentation. Timberlake, who is currently in Europe as part of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, was not present for the Friday hearing but is expected to participate virtually in the upcoming court session.
Burke, speaking to reporters after the hearing, reiterated Timberlake’s stance. “He was not intoxicated. I’ll say it again. Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated. We are very confident that this criminal charge will be dismissed,” Burke told WABC and other media outlets.
In a subsequent statement provided to CNN, Burke elaborated on his claims. “The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI. The police made a number of very significant errors in this case,” Burke said. He added, “Justin respects law enforcement and the crucial role they play. He cooperated fully with the officers and treated them with the utmost respect. He also respects the judicial process, including the District Attorney and Judge present today. However, it remains clear that he was not intoxicated, and the arrest was erroneous. We are confident that this charge will be dismissed.”
Timberlake’s legal troubles began when he was stopped by a Sag Harbor Village Police Department officer while leaving the American Hotel. According to a representative from the Sag Harbor Police Department, Timberlake’s 2025 BMW allegedly failed to stop at a posted stop sign and did not maintain its lane. Following the traffic stop, police claimed Timberlake was operating his vehicle under the influence.
An arrest report obtained by What’s Trending indicated that the officer involved said Timberlake “performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests” and had mentioned consuming “one martini” before being stopped. Timberlake was held overnight and subsequently arraigned before being released on his own recognizance.
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In a statement on June 19, Burke expressed his intent to “vigorously defend” Timberlake against the allegations and hinted that Timberlake would address the situation publicly at an appropriate time.
During his Chicago concert on June 21, Timberlake addressed his fans, acknowledging the challenging week he had experienced. “I know sometimes I’m hard to love but you keep on loving me, and I love you right back,” he told the audience, referring to the arrest.
A source close to Timberlake and his wife, Jessica Biel, later told PEOPLE that the couple remains focused on their family and Timberlake’s career. “They’re always supportive of each other’s careers,” the source said. “Jess would never miss a show when she’s able to attend. She’s excited for him. They’ve moved on from the arrest.”
The next court date for Timberlake’s DWI case is scheduled for August 2, 2024. The outcome of the re-arraignment will determine whether the charges are dismissed or if the case proceeds further.
