Michigan Judge Worked Drunk, Meddled in Cases, Officials Say (1)

A Michigan judge worked while drunk, sexually harassed female employees, and intervened in cases in which he or his family were involved, according to a disciplinary complaint filed Thursday.

Fourth Circuit Judge Thomas D. Wilson—whose courtroom is in Jackson County, about 80 miles from Detroit—committed multiple acts unbecoming of his position, which he has held since 2007, according to the state Judicial Tenure Commission’s eight-count complaint. The judge, who has two weeks to respond, testified in front of the commission twice this year, and his responses are reflected in the complaint.

The complaint says Wilson abused alcohol starting as early as 2013 and stopped in about 2021, which included arriving at the courthouse after drinking at home. He “smelled of alcohol and looked disheveled” at a meeting of judges in his county in 2018, the complaint says.

On several occasions, Wilson also had relationships with attorneys and didn’t disclose that when they appeared before him. Among them were tenants in a building he owned, investment partners, and his own lawyers for various legal matters involving him and a family member. In some cases he didn’t pay the attorneys, which counted as a prohibited gift, the complaint says.

Then there were the instances where the judge inserted himself into cases, the complaint states. In one instance, he told a defendant in front of him who was the subject of a no-contact order to go to the prohibited location to pick up medication. When the man was about to be arrested for violating the order, Wilson called emergency dispatchers to intervene and said the situation was “all taken care of.”

In Wilson’s own divorce case, he approached a judge disqualified from hearing the case with an order that said he owed nothing in child support, even though a previous draft said he owed $2,030, according to the complaint. He also had a case involving a relative transferred back to his county and intervened in a relative’s criminal case in a different court.

Wilson additionally sexually harassed female judges and a prosecutor, and took steps not to report delays in issuing decisions to the State Court Administrative Office, the complaint says.

While the commission files the complaint and makes disciplinary recommendations, the Michigan Supreme Court has the final say on punishment.

Wilson’s attorney, Thomas W. Cranmer of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC said his client is a “respected and trusted jurist in Jackson County.” He said they look forward to “clearing his name.”