Detroit judge removed from office after punishing teenager who fell asleep during visit
A Detroit judge was incapacitated after ordering a sleepy teenager on a school field trip to wear prison garb and handcuffs in his courtroom.
According to the Associated Press, the court’s chief judge said Judge Kenneth King would not take office because he needed to undergo “necessary training.”
The teenager’s mother, Latoreya Till, told the Detroit Free Press that the judge was “a big bully,” adding: “My daughter is hurt. She’s scared.”
Till said her daughter took part in a field trip to the courthouse organized by the environmental group The Greening of Detroit.
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Judge Kenneth King listens during a probable cause hearing in Detroit. (Todd McInturf/Detroit News via AP)
On Tuesday, the 15-year-old fell asleep in King’s courtroom.
King wasn’t happy that the teen had fallen asleep. But as he told WXYZ-TV, it was her attitude that prompted him to order the teen to wear prison garb, handcuff her and give her a stern talking to.
“I wanted it to look and feel very real for them, even though there’s probably no real chance I’ll put them in jail,” he told the broadcaster.
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The 36th District Court building in Detroit, March 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, file)
King was temporarily removed from the criminal docket to “complete the necessary training to address the underlying issues that contributed to this incident,” said William McConico, chief judge of the 36th District Court.
McConico also said the court “remains committed to providing access to justice in an environment free from intimidation or disrespect. Judge King’s actions on August 13 do not reflect that commitment.”
King will continue to be paid during his time as a non-man; a move approved by the state court’s administrative office.
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A hammer in a courtroom (iStock)
It is unclear how long King’s training will last or what it will entail.
King became a judge in 2006. At the end of his hearings on Thursday, which can be viewed on YouTube, he made a heart shape with his hands.
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Till told the Free Press that her daughter was tired during the court appearance because her family does not have a permanent home.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
