On October 3, 2025, U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington -- a sitting federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 -- crashed his wife's Cadillac into two traffic signs on a curved rural road near his vacation home in Emmet County, Michigan. Full airbag deployment. Damage all down the passenger side. He then drove the wrecked vehicle approximately a mile from the crash site before a Michigan State Police trooper made contact. When asked how much he had to drink, Judge Ludington told the trooper "nothing tonight" and later doubled down -- "I seriously don't think I had anything to drink." He claimed no memory of the crash, no memory of the airbag deployment, and no memory of any drinking. He volunteered "I'm actually a federal judge" during the field investigation. He blew a 0.27 -- more than three times the legal limit and well into Michigan's "super drunk" enhanced penalty range. The arrest was kept out of public view for nearly four months. Judge Ludington continued hearing federal cases -- including assembling a grand jury the morning of the crash -- until The Detroit News broke the story in late January 2026. He took voluntary paid leave in February. In April 2026, he pleaded no contest to operating while intoxicated. The super drunk charge was dismissed as part of the plea. Footage obtained via public records request from Michigan State Police. This is Bodycam Zero. No narration. Just the footage. bodycamzero.com bodycam.com #bodycam #DUI #federaljudge