Rosemary Lehmberg has been prosecuting drunk drivers in Travis County for a full term in office.

Now she finds herself among the ranks of those she has sent to jail. How can she continue in her job? She can’t, as the Austin American-Statesman editorial linked here says.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/opinion/arrest-should-end-lehmbergs-career-in-law-enforcem/nXQRg/

Lehmberg is in deep trouble with the law. She was caught driving drunk. Her vehicle reportedly was seen crossing into oncoming traffic. Her political career likely is over, although given what the country has seen with the budding comeback of former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, the end of the Travis County district attorney’s career isn’t exactly a sure thing.

It ought to be.

These matters of judicial integrity mean that those who prosecute people accused of crimes must be absolutely, utterly, completely beyond reproach. Rosemary Lehmberg’s has been damaged beyond repair. Every DUI case she or her office prosecutes from this day forward would be tainted for as long as Lehmberg serves as district attorney.

Public service demands a lot of those who seek to do it. Those who choose to serve the public must give the public the best of everything about them. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a deal-breaker, especially for a prosecutor.