US Judge Goes on Leave While Awaiting Drunken-Driving Trial (1)

A Michigan federal judge that authorities said was nearly four times over the legal blood-alcohol content limit when he was arrested for drunken driving has gone on paid leave while awaiting his trial.

Judge Thomas L. Ludington’s voluntary leave from the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan comes less than a week after additional details emerged about when a state trooper pulled him over in October, after he allegedly twice veered off the road and struck traffic signs.

The 72-year-old appointee of President George W. Bush failed multiple field sobriety tests, including one where he was asked to recite a portion of the alphabet and he responded “A, B, C, D, F, U,” according to a report. He denied drinking anything that night and said he wasn’t sure why his airbags had deployed, the report said.

“The Court recognizes the seriousness of this matter,” the eastern Michigan federal court said Monday in a statement. “The law accords to every citizen the presumption of innocence, due process, and many other rights. It will govern this matter as it does any other in our judicial system. We value Judge Ludington as a colleague and friend.”

The court also said that “it has taken all appropriate steps to address the matter consistent with its obligations to the public, the federal judiciary, and of course, to Judge Ludington.” In a text message, a spokesman declined to say how the court will handle Ludington’s docket while he’s away.

Mug shot of Judge Thomas Ludington of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Michigan State Police

The judge’s courtroom is in Bay City, more than 100 miles northwest of Detroit. His jury trial on misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 or more and operating a vehicle while intoxicated is set for May 8 in the 90th District Court in Emmet County, in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and more than two hours north of his courtroom.

News of his taking paid leave was first reported by The Detroit News.