On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission filed a formal complaint against Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas D. Wilson, accusing him of multiple instances of misconduct, including sexual harassment, alcohol abuse, conflicts of interest, and misuse of his office.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Thomas D. Wilson,” with case number 110.

The 23-page complaint details several allegations against Wilson, stating that he admitted under oath to abusing alcohol between 2013 and 2015, continuing until 2020 or 2021. The complaint alleges that he sometimes appeared in public smelling of alcohol, looking disheveled, or appearing flushed. One such instance occurred on Election Night in 2016 when he reportedly told county staff that he had been “at the bar next door” and invited them for shots of Fireball whiskey.

The complaint also includes allegations of sexual harassment. Wilson is accused of describing sexual encounters in graphic terms to women. He allegedly told a female judge that her breasts were bigger, which he admitted under oath in January 2025. He also allegedly told another woman that he had been wanting to have sex with her for a long time. In 2018, he allegedly drove up to an assistant prosecuting attorney in a parking lot and said, “Nice legs!” and later told her she looked “hot” after losing weight.

Further, the complaint alleges undisclosed conflicts of interest. According to the document, Wilson owned a building in Jackson where multiple attorneys who appeared in his court were tenants between 2007 and 2022. He also allegedly co-owned investments with two attorneys and received legal services for himself or a family member without payment in some matters. The filing asserts that Wilson did not disclose these relationships or recuse himself from their cases as required.

The complaint also accuses Wilson of interfering in cases. In 2019, he allegedly called police dispatch during a domestic violence case to try to prevent an arrest. He also allegedly approached another judge ex parte during his own divorce to get an order changed and pressured prosecutors about a “minor in possession” case involving a relative. The filing states that Wilson introduced himself as a judge to a prosecutor and mentioned local officials by name.

The commission also cites multiple delays in issuing rulings. These include a divorce decision that took about a year, a summary-disposition motion that sat for months before and after a medical leave, and a criminal case where the Court of Appeals ordered a conviction reinstated but no action was taken for 23 months. The complaint also states that Wilson failed to act on dozens of personal protection order petitions within the required timeframes.

Additionally, the commission alleges that Wilson directed staff as early as 2007 not to use a required case-tracking code for matters “under advisement,” which kept delayed decisions from appearing on State Court Administrative Office reports. Under oath in April 2025, Wilson did not dispute giving that instruction and, in January, said he wanted time to finish matters “without it showing up as being late,” according to the filing.

Wilson’s attorney, Thomas Cranmer, issued a response to the complaint via phone statement. Cranmer stated that “Judge Wilson is a respected and trusted jurist in Jackson County, and it’s not appropriate for us to try this case in the media. But I can tell you that we look forward to clearing his name as we move forward with the judicial tenure commission process”.

The filing of a formal complaint initiates the disciplinary process and does not constitute a finding of misconduct. Wilson has 14 days from service to file a verified answer.

Judge Wilson‘s courtroom is located at 312 South Jackson Street, 4th Floor, Jackson, MI 49201, and can be reached at 517-788-4380.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.