Michigan federal judge Thomas Ludington takes leave after DUI arrest

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U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington, 72, has taken a voluntary paid leave of absence following his October 3 drunken driving arrest in which he crashed his vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.270, more than three times the legal limit. Ludington is charged with misdemeanors of operating with a BAC of .17 or higher and drunken driving, and is set for an April court date. The delay in publicly disclosing the incident for nearly four months has led to a complaint filed against Ludington by a judicial watchdog group.

Why it matters

Ludington's arrest and the delayed public disclosure raise concerns about accountability and transparency in the federal judiciary. As a sitting federal judge, Ludington's conduct and the court's handling of the matter could undermine public trust in the judicial system.

The details

According to police, Ludington crashed his wife's 2019 black Cadillac CT6 into road signs in Springvale Township, about 10 miles east of Petoskey, on October 3. Troopers responding to the scene found Ludington 'super drunk' with a BAC of 0.270. Ludington is charged with misdemeanors of operating with a BAC of .17 or higher and drunken driving, and is set for a status conference on April 6 and a potential jury trial on April 8.

• On October 3, Ludington was arrested after crashing his vehicle around 7:20 p.m.
• Ludington is set for a 1:30 p.m. April 6 status conference in Emmet County District Court.
• If a plea deal isn't reached, Ludington would be set for a jury trial at 8:30 a.m. April 8.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Ludington out on bail.