Supreme court orders judge Wilson to retire after misconduct findings

The Michigan Supreme Court ordered 4th Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wilson to retire and not seek or accept judicial office, adopting findings by the Judicial Tenure Commission that he engaged in a range of misconduct. The order, dated Oct. 9, says Wilson consented to the findings and sanction. Under the agreement, his retirement was effective Feb. 28, 2026, and he agreed not to seek or accept an appointment as a visiting judge until after Sept. 1, 2026.

The commission’s findings noted that Wilson abused alcohol for several years and sometimes appeared in public, including at the courthouse, showing signs such as smelling of alcohol or speaking with a slurred voice. The commission also found that he did not obtain a substance‑abuse assessment when first asked in 2019, and a 2024 assessment found no present cause for concern. The findings also describe Wilson’s involvement in cases involving himself or relatives, including contacting police about a defendant’s alleged no‑contact‑order violation, intervening in proceedings involving a relative, and asking prosecutors to dismiss a relative’s case.

The commission found the conduct violated judicial rules and that Wilson delayed decisions in multiple cases, did not act for 23 months after an appeals court remand, and failed to timely decide more than 50 personal protection order proceedings. It found he instructed staff not to code pending cases as “under advisement,” concealing delays from court tracking and reporting systems. Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh concurred, noting that only the Supreme Court has authority to appoint a retired judge as a visiting judge, and that the agreement could not direct how the court would exercise that authority in the future.

Read the full story at wilx.com.