Judge Faces Lawsuit for Alleged Misconduct During Teen’s Courtroom Visit

A Detroit judge faces a federal lawsuit after handcuffing and detaining a teenage girl who fell asleep during a courtroom field trip, sparking outrage and raising questions about judicial conduct.

At a Glance

Judge Kenneth King is being sued for civil rights violations after detaining a 15-year-old girl who fell asleep during a field trip
The teenager was handcuffed and forced to wear a jail uniform for about two hours
The lawsuit seeks over $75,000 for each of eight alleged constitutional violations
Judge King has been temporarily removed from the docket and mandated to undergo training

Incident Details and Legal Action

A 15-year-old girl, Eva Goodman, and her mother have filed a lawsuit against Detroit Judge Kenneth King in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The lawsuit stems from an incident during a courtroom field trip where Goodman allegedly fell asleep, leading to her detention and mistreatment by Judge King.

According to the lawsuit, Goodman was handcuffed, forced to wear a jail uniform, and detained in an isolated holding cell for approximately two hours. The legal action accuses Judge King of acting outside his judicial authority and violating Goodman’s constitutional rights, including unreasonable search and seizure and lack of due process.

Teen sues Detroit judge who detained her after falling asleep during courtroom field trip https://t.co/mmwywpfze2

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 22, 2024

Emotional Impact and Family Response

The incident has reportedly had a significant emotional toll on Goodman and her family. Her mother, Latoreya Till, described Judge King as a “big bully” and expressed concern about the lasting impact on her daughter.

“It’s been pretty devastating. Eva does not want to come outside,” Till said at a news conference.

Till also revealed that her family currently lacks permanent housing, which may have contributed to her daughter’s tiredness during the field trip. The lawsuit claims that Goodman was traumatized by a prior court proceeding and fell asleep as a result of this trauma.

Legal Claims and Judicial Accountability

The lawsuit lists multiple constitutional rights violations and seeks more than $75,000 for each of the eight alleged violations. James Harrington and Gary Felty of Fieger Law, representing Goodman and her mother, argue that Judge King had no authority to detain Goodman as she was not involved in any court proceedings.

“I can tell you with 100% certainty that there is zero immunity for what happened in the courtroom on this day,” Harrington said.

The lawsuit also targets private security services and two unidentified court officers. It accuses Judge King of malicious prosecution, unlawful arrest and incarceration, intentional affliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, false arrest, and false imprisonment.

Attorneys for a teenager who was ordered into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip to a Detroit court filed a lawsuit against a judge Wednesday, accusing him of humiliation, false arrest and unlawful detention. https://t.co/z2gt0Yctoi

— Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) August 22, 2024

Responses and Consequences

In response to the incident, Chief Judge William McConico has temporarily removed Judge King from the docket and mandated training for him. However, King will still receive his annual salary of nearly $170,000 during his removal. Wayne State University has also removed King from teaching two fall classes.

Judge King defended his actions in a TV station interview, stating, “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.” This justification has been criticized by Goodman’s attorneys, who argue that King acted inappropriately by taking on multiple roles, including producer, broadcaster, and judge.

The case has sparked a broader discussion about judicial conduct, especially when interacting with minors in educational contexts. It underscores the importance of maintaining ethical standards and proper conduct in the legal system, particularly during educational field trips designed to teach students about judicial processes.