On April 23, 2007, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm appointed Slavens to the Third Circuit Court of Wayne County.
He filled the unexpired term of the Honorable Maggie Drake, who stepped down effective January 1, 2007.
Slavens was Vice President of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (PCCS) Board of Education.
Slavens won the cities of Belleville, Flat Rock, Plymouth, Rockwood, Trenton and Woodhaven.
Tom Slavens is a retired Professor of Information at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.