On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Above The Law reported that Judge Thomas L. Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to pay $1,175 in fees and costs following a misdemeanor drunk driving charge.
The charge stemmed from an October incident where he was accused of driving under the influence, which led to a judicial misconduct complaint.
Ludington had previously entered a no-contest plea and taken a voluntary leave of absence from the bench in February as his case progressed.
Ludington’s attorney, Jonathan B. Steffy of Harris Law, issued a statement noting that Ludington had apologized in court to the Judge and the community. The statement also conveyed Ludington’s gratitude that no one was injured and his commitment to continuing his career and focusing on his family.
However, Fix the Court, the nonpartisan group that initially filed the misconduct complaint against Judge Ludington, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome. Gabe Roth, the organization’s executive director, questioned how Ludington could simply return to his position as if the incident never occurred.
Roth also criticized Ludington for allegedly concealing his arrest from his colleagues for several months. Roth stated that Ludington should have come clean immediately after the incident and begun to take remedial steps, like entering rehab or AA.
While the criminal case against Judge Ludington has concluded, Fix the Court’s ethics complaint against him remains open.
Source: Above The Law
