In light of new details emerging about E.D. Mich. Judge Thomas Ludington’s Oct. 3, 2025, arrest, Fix the Court is releasing a letter we wrote on Feb. 9 to Sixth Circuit Chief Judge Jeff Sutton about the incident. (See a screencap, courtesy of WJRT-TV in Flint, Mich., of the arresting officer’s bodycam video at right.)

We’re still considering whether to file a formal complaint but would prefer to see a swifter resolution here. In other words, since there are no time restrictions in the judicial misconduct law, a chief judge could theoretically sit on a complaint and do nothing for months. So sometimes, emailing a court about an incident like this is more efficient. We’ll see if it is here.

Also of note: Ludington has been assigned another 10 cases since the letter was sent.

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Good morning,

This is Gabe Roth from Fix the Court. I’m writing because I am wondering if Chief Judge Sutton has considered initiating any disciplinary actions in light of news that E.D. Mich. Judge Thomas Ludington was arrested for a DUI in October, which the public, and presumably you all, only learned about in the last few days.

As far as I can tell, Judge Ludington is still being assigned cases, including at least three last week — Kiogima v. Equifax, 1:26-cv-10400 (Feb. 4), Billings v. Michigan Sugar Co. 2:26-cv-10406 (Feb. 4) and Rivas–Lozano v. ICE Detroit Field Office, 1:26-cv-10410 (Feb. 5) — which may be fine so long as he’s getting the help he needs and the cases will soon be reassigned once that help commences.

[I have also emailed] his attorney, Jon Steffy, last Monday, and though I wasn’t expecting a response, per se, and I haven’t received one, I was hoping it might lead to some sort of public mea culpa, which, as far as I can tell, has yet to happen.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Sincerely,
Gabe Roth
Fix the Court