The allegations were made in guardianship papers filed by the family of Judge William T. Marshall, 62, an elected judge in southern Ohio.

A total of 2,707 cases which he heard and which involved prison time or court supervision are now being reviewed under the oversight of the state public defender’s office.

Judge Marshall’s family, who are seeking control of his personal and financial affairs, claim that the judge regularly “either failed to appear for work as a common pleas judge or showed up to work while under the influence”.

Without a guardian, they say, he would “return to drinking and continue his self-inflicted death sentence”, Fox News reports.

According to the documents, Judge Marshall has been hospitalised at least three times since 2013 in connection with his alcoholism and was also ordered to attend a rehab clinic following a drunk driving conviction.