A Michigan federal judge who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge was ordered to appear in state court for a possible probation violation.
US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Judge Thomas L. Ludington must appear June 8 after a probation officer said he “failed to drug screen” as ordered during the first week of his probation last month. The allegations are detailed in a request and summons issued to Ludington on May 27 that was signed by a judge in the 90th District Court in northern Michigan.
More details weren’t immediately available. Ludington, when he was sentenced in May following his plea, was ordered to undergo two alcohol tests per week during his six months of probation. His attorney with Harris Law didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Ludington was also ordered to pay $1,000 in fines and costs and given a 93-day jail sentence, among other conditions. However, the sentencing judge said Ludington wouldn’t serve the jail time unless he violates the terms of his probation, according to Emmet County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Schuitema.
The George W. Bush appointee failed multiple field sobriety tests during his encounter with troopers more than two hours north of his Bay City courtroom in October, including one where he was asked to recite a portion of the alphabet and responded with “A, B, C, D, F, U,” according to a police report. Ludington denied drinking anything that night and said he wasn’t sure why his airbags deployed, the report said.
While the judge went on paid leave in February, his lawyer said in a statement following the sentencing that his client “looks forward to continuing to serve the Federal Court at the highest level and focus on his work, along with his wife and family.”
His status with the federal court wasn’t immediately clear. A court spokesman said in a text message that he didn’t have any “updated information” on Ludington and declined comment on the case.
The case is Michigan v. Ludington, Mich. Dist. Ct., No. 2025-25-0564-SD, probation violation hearing scheduled 6/8/26.