judge Thomas Ludington
U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington, who sits on the bench in Bay City, was sentenced Wednesday to six months probation for drunk driving on Oct. 3, The Detroit News reports.
His intoxicated, belligerent, and slurred behavior sparked an investigation into his conduct by the U.S. Court of Appeals, Robert Snell of The News reports.
Charlevoix 90th District Judge Angela Lasher sentenced Ludington, whom police say crashed into two signs along a curved road in Springvale Township, east of Petoskey.
In April, he pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated. The more serious charge of being "super drunk" was dismissed. A no contest plea means he accepted the conviction and punishment without admitting guilt.
He was appointed to the federal bench in 2006 by President George W. Bush. He is not expected to immediately return to the bench while his conduct is investigated by the court.
