A federal bankruptcy judge from Boston was arrested Wednesday night in Manchester and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Judge Robert Somma, 63, told the police he was coming from the Breezeway Pub when he hit another car on Elm Street about 11:30 p.m., according to a police report. No one was hurt.

When the police arrived, Somma had trouble coming up with his driver's license, according to a police report. And he passed out several times while the police were talking with him, the police said.

Somma, of Newbury, Mass., had a court spokesman return a phone call placed to his home last night. The spokesman, Gary Wente, said Somma notified court officials yesterday morning of his arrest and told them he intended to plead guilty to the driving while intoxicated charge.

Wente said he doesn't expect the arrest will jeopardize Somma's job as long as Somma accepts responsibility for the offense. Somma was appointed to the bench in 2004.

ANNMARIE TIMMINS