Wild Police Bodycam Footage Shows “Super Drunk” and Belligerent Federal Judge Slurring His Words After He Crashes His Cadillac
Body camera footage released by Michigan State Police shows U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington appearing heavily intoxicated during an October 2025 arrest following a vehicle crash in Emmet County, Michigan.
Ludington, 72, was taken into custody after his Cadillac crashed. In the footage, he is seen slurring his speech and denying he had been drinking. He also told officers he did not know how the crash occurred or why his airbags had deployed, and he struggled to follow police instructions.
According to state police records, Ludington’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.27 — more than three times Michigan’s legal driving limit of 0.08. Under Michigan law, a BAC of 0.17 or higher is classified as “super drunk.” He faces charges of operating while intoxicated and operating with a BAC of 0.17 or above.
During the encounter, an officer asked, “I want you to be serious with me. How much have you had to drink tonight?” Ludington raised his arms and responded, “Seriously, I don’t think I had anything.” He later became argumentative when asked to submit to a breath test and used profanity as officers placed him in a patrol vehicle.
Ludington has served on the federal bench since 2006 and has practiced law in Michigan since 1980. A federal judicial watchdog has filed a complaint related to the incident. He is scheduled to return to court for a status conference in April.
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