Judge Kenneth King of Detroit’s 36th District Court has been temporarily removed from his criminal case docket following an incident where he ordered a 15-year-old girl to wear jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip to his courtroom.

Chief Judge William McConico announced on Thursday that King will undergo “necessary training to address the underlying issues that contributed to this incident.”

The teenager, identified as Eva Goodman by her mother Latoreya Till, fell asleep in King’s court on Tuesday during a visit organized by The Greening of Detroit, an environmental nonprofit. King’s response to the situation has sparked controversy and criticism.

Till described her daughter as “hurt” and “feeling scared” following the incident. She explained that Eva was sleepy due to the family’s lack of permanent residence, stating, “That particular night, we got in kind of late. And usually, when she goes to work, she’s up and planting trees or being active.”

Judge King defended his actions, telling WXYZ-TV, “I wanted this to look and feel very real to her, even though there’s probably no real chance of me putting her in jail.” He claimed it was the teen’s attitude, rather than her falling asleep, that led to his decision.

Chief Judge McConico emphasized the court’s commitment to providing access to justice in an environment free from intimidation or disrespect. He stated, “The actions of Judge King on August 13th do not reflect this commitment.”

The State Court Administrative Office approved the temporary removal and training, though details about the training’s duration and content were not disclosed.

Marissa Ebersole Wood, chairperson of The Greening of Detroit, criticized King’s methods, stating, “Although the judge was trying to teach a lesson of respect, his methods were unacceptable. The group of students should have been simply asked to leave the courtroom if he thought they were disrespectful.”

Judge King, who has been on the bench since 2006, primarily handles felony cases to determine if there’s enough evidence to send them to trial at Wayne County Circuit Court. He will continue to be paid during his temporary removal from the criminal docket.

This incident has raised questions about appropriate judicial conduct, especially when dealing with minors and vulnerable individuals. It also highlights the potential consequences of well-intentioned but misguided attempts to teach respect in a courtroom setting.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact Judge King’s career and what changes, if any, will be implemented in the 36th District Court’s policies regarding field trips and interactions with young visitors.

AP