Thousands rally to save nun's teaching job after drink driving conviction

Kimberly Miller claimed she was asleep behind the wheel but was found guilty of drinking under influence

Ms Miller was pulled over by police who found a half-empty bottle of wine in her car (Petitionbuzz.com)

Over 2,000 people have signed a petition to save a nun from being fired from a school after she was convicted for drink driving.

Kimberly Miller, 41, argued she had taken an Ambien pill on 7 November with a glass of wine before going to bed and she did not know how she ended up behind the wheel of her Chevrolet sedan.

Police stopped the nun after a couple saw her reverse her vehicle into an auto repair shop and then drive away. Officers discovered a half-empty bottle of wine in the back of her car.

Defense lawyer Jeff Lindy said Ms Miller, who is also a high school teacher, had been suffering from “pathological intoxication” and fell asleep at the wheel.

The prosecutor, Scott Burns, retorted that there was “nothing about intent” in the state law against drink driving, as reported by NJ.com.

Judge Martin Whitcraft said he did not buy Ms Miller’s story that she had not been warned of the side effects of Ambien, as the drug has been on the market “for some time”.

More than 2,300 people have rallied behind "Sister Kim" to get her reinstated at the Little Flower High School in Philadelphia. She is currently on paid administrative leave.

“She has been a fine educator and a shoulder to cry on for many of her students,” the petition read. "Her wisdom and love has helped many of her students get through the most difficult times of high school. In light of recent events, all of the positive things she has done should not be overshadowed by one negative wrongdoing."

Ms Miller said she spent the evening of 7 November at a book signing and had been given the wine to take home to the convent. The book store owner testified and admitted giving her the wine “leftovers”.

The fact that the wine bottle had been opened violated New Jersey’s “open container” law, said the judge.

Ms Miller’s licence was suspended for 90 days and she was ordered to pay a fine.

“She's upset,” Mr Lindy said. "She's in tears, because she knows what happened that night. The conviction doesn't bother her as much as the fact that the judge didn't believe her. She's hurt by that."