A Michigan judge's attempt at courtroom discipline has led to legal action after a teen was handcuffed for falling asleep during a field trip, a punitive gesture that has caused public outcry for its severity. According to a CBS News Detroit report, the family of Eva Goodman, 15, filed a lawsuit against Detroit Judge Kenneth King, seeking $75,000 for the emotional and psychological impact the incident has had on the teenager.
The debacle occurred on August 13, when Goodman, on an educational outing with the nonprofit The Greening of Detroit, dozed off in King's courtroom and subsequently found herself in handcuffs, temporarily dressed in prisoner attire, and part of a staged trial, in actions that were broadcasted live, per The Detroit News. Her attorney, James Harrington of Fieger Law, contended that the judge had no immunity for his extracurricular disciplinary methods, stating, "This was completely outside of the scope of what a judge should be allowed to do, within any realm of decency, but outside of any type of proceeding."
The 36th District Court has responded to the incident by temporarily removing Judge King from his docket and mandating training; Chief Judge William McConico declared "We regularly and actively welcome students to observe and engage with the judicial process, aiming to provide valuable educational experiences and foster familiarity with the justice system. We sincerely hope that this incident does not undermine our longstanding relationships with local schools," as The Detroit News noted. Meanwhile, Wayne State University, where King also taught, reassigned the judge's courses and removed his profile from the institution's website.
Latoreya Till, Goodman's mother, movingly detailed the emotional toll that the judge's actions had placed on her daughter, who now hesitates to engage with others, struggling with the question of why she was singled out; she told The Detroit News: "She's embarrassed and humiliated. And I can't blame her. ... I just want Judge King to take accountability for the way he humiliated my daughter."
Todd Perkins, King's attorney, released a statement on his behalf: "He is remorseful and sorry if any young person was hurt, as any actions by Judge King would never seek to have that as an intended consequence. He only wants the best outcome for this young person and all young people. She matters. They matter. They are our future," as mentioned in the CBS News Detroit report.
As for the judicial aspect of the case against King, Harrington made it clear what their stance was toward the judge's behavior; "The problem with what this judge did was this was completely outside of the scope of what a judge should be allowed to do within any realm of decency," Harrington said when contacted by CBS News Detroit.
