The founder of Ireland's first and only Drug Court resigned from the pilot scheme yesterday.
Judge Gerard Haughton said his position had been made "untenable" by the refusal of the body representing court presidents to sanction his attendance at an international conference of Drug Court Professionals in the US in June.
Announcing his decision from the bench yesterday, Judge Haughton said he had taken it with regret, but felt he was left with no alternative.
All the other members of the Drug Court team - probation, education, medical, Garda and administrative disciplines - had been invited to attend but not him.
The body responsible for sanctioning his attendance, the Judicial Studies Institute (JSI), representing the court presidents of the four tiers of judiciary, said it was unable to free up a judge for five days due to the "extremely busy" district court lists.
"It was not possible to allow a judge's absence from the bench for five working days as it would have a negative effect on the court lists, waiting times and court users," a spokesman for the JSI said.
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) conference is due to take place in Milwaukee between June 1st and 5th.
Judge Haughton has attended the conference in previous years.
"In the circumstances, I was left with no alternative. All the cases before the court today are being adjourned for two weeks when another judge will take them," he said.
A number of participants who had been waiting for their cases to be called reacted with dismay with one young man saying "we're all shocked, judge".
As Judge Haughton got up and left, most of them broke into applause.
The Drug Court was established in January 2001 and marked a radical departure in dealing with the ceaseless ebb of addicts who turned up time and again in the court system.
Modelled on a similar system in the US, its approach was to put non-violent offenders on a closely monitored regime whereby they are gradually weaned off drugs and learn how to live a normal life again.
Those who opted to take part in the Drug Court scheme were given the choice of involvement in a tough programme of rehabilitation or an immediate jail sentence.
It involved a team of professionals ranging from nurses who tested participants to ensure they were not still taking illicit drugs, to gardaí, who would bring them back before the court for normal sentencing if they deviated back into crime.
At the end of the line was Judge Haughton, who held twice-weekly courts whereby the progress of participants, or lack of it, was reviewed. Around 145 people enrolled on the programme with 45 still participating and 10 having "graduated" from the course.
Among them was a 43-year-old man who overcame a lifetime of addiction after 14 months in the Drug Court scheme and had taken up a computer course.
The first graduate, in March 2002, was a 32-year-old man who had been involved in crime and drugs since the age of 15.
A woman who had also been involved in drugs from an early age graduated with the hope of becoming a fitness instructor.
Judge Haughton will continue to serve as a judge in the District Court.