A Detroit judge has been temporarily removed from his duties after an incident in which he forced a 15-year-old girl to wear handcuffs and a jail uniform for allegedly falling asleep during a field trip to his courtroom. The judge, Kenneth King of the 36th District Court, took this action after stating that he did not like the girl’s “attitude” and wanted to teach her “how you are to conduct yourself in a courtroom.”
The teenager, Eva Goodman, was visiting the court as part of an educational trip organised by the environmental charity The Greening, known for its outdoor activities such as kayaking and bird-watching. The incident has sparked outrage and led to an internal investigation by the court.
Chief Judge William McConico, who oversees the 36th District Court, announced on Thursday that Judge King would be temporarily removed from his cases and required to undergo “necessary training.” McConico emphasised that the court values its relationships with local schools and expressed hope that this incident would not damage those partnerships.
Latoreya Hill, Eva’s mother, expressed her dismay at the judge’s actions. “Would you want someone to treat your child like that?” Hill asked in a local news interview. “To belittle her in front of the whole world and her friends, to make her feel even worse about her situation.”
Video footage from the court shows Judge King addressing Eva and her mother, stating, “One thing you’ll learn about my courtroom is that I’m not a toy. I am not to be played with.” He then asked other visitors on the trip to vote on whether Eva should be sent to a juvenile detention center, before ultimately deciding to have her handcuffed and dressed in a jail outfit as a lesson, though she was released soon after. In the video of the incident, King also told Eva: “You sleep at home in your bed, not in court.”
King said in interviews following the incident, “It was her whole attitude and her whole disposition that disturbed me. I wanted to get through to her, show how serious this is,” noting that his intent was to prevent the girl from ending up in court in the future.” I’ll do whatever needs to be done to reach these kids and make sure that they don’t end up in front of me,” he stated.
He also admitted that there was little real chance of her being jailed but wanted to give her a “real” experience, likening it to the “Scared Straight” programs used to deter youth from criminal behavior.
Eva’s mother, however, provided context for her daughter’s behavior, explaining that Eva did not have “her own bed that she can sleep in” and was simply tired. As a single mother of two, Hill expressed her frustration, saying, “I’m trying my best.”
Judge Aliyah Sabree, the court’s second-in-command, condemned Judge King’s actions, stating that they did “not reflect the standards” of the court. She assured that the matter would be addressed with “the utmost diligence.”
Despite the backlash, Judge King defended his decisions, maintaining that his actions were intended to deliver a strong message to the girl and others present. However, the controversy surrounding the incident has prompted the court to take swift action to ensure that such situations are handled appropriately in the future.
Melissa Enoch
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