Detroit judge Kenneth King has been temporarily removed from his docket following an incident where he ordered a 15-year-old girl to be handcuffed and dressed in jail clothes for falling asleep in his courtroom. The teen, Eva Goodman, was attending court as part of a field trip with the Greening of Detroit nonprofit when the incident took place.
Judge King, who has served on the 36th District Court since 2006, reportedly became frustrated with Goodman after seeing her doze off and perceiving her attitude as disrespectful. He stated in court, “You sleep in bed at your home, not at court,” before suggesting she might need to go to a juvenile detention facility.
Goodman’s mother, Latoreya Hill, was horrified when she saw footage of her daughter in handcuffs. Hill, a single mother struggling with housing instability, explained that her daughter was exhausted because their family currently lacks a permanent home.
“To belittle her in front of the whole world and her friends… how do you know my baby got a home, how do you know my baby got a bed she could sleep in? She doesn’t have that right now, so she was tired.”
In response to the incident, 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico ordered Judge King to undergo training to address the underlying issues that contributed to his actions. McConico emphasized the court’s dedication to providing a respectful and supportive environment, particularly when welcoming students for educational experiences.
He also expressed the court’s commitment to rebuilding trust with the community, stating, “Our thoughts and actions are now with the student and her family, and we are committed to taking these corrective measures to demonstrate that this incident is an isolated occurrence.”
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