A Detroit judge, Kenneth King, has been suspended after an incident in which he ordered a 15-year-old girl, Eva Goodman, to be dressed in prison clothes and handcuffed during an educational field trip to his courthouse. The incident happened after he noticed Goodman falling asleep in his courtroom. The judge then threatened her with minor jail time before releasing her.
The suspension was announced by William McConico, the chief judge of the 36th District Court. He stated that King would receive “the necessary training to address the underlying issues that contributed to this incident.” McConico emphasized the court's commitment to providing access to justice in an environment free of intimidation or disrespect, and acknowledged that King's actions did not reflect that commitment.
Goodman's mother, Latoreya Till, expressed her distress over the incident, describing her daughter as scared and hurt. He criticized the judge's actions, calling him a “big bully”. She also revealed that her daughter was tired of her lack of permanent residency.
In response to criticism, King defended his actions, stating that it was Goodman's attitude and disposition that disturbed him. He claimed his intention was to show her the seriousness of court proceedings and the behavior expected in a courtroom.
Marissa Ebersole Wood, president of The Greening of Detroit, the nonprofit environmental group that organized the walkout, also weighed in on the incident. He claimed that while the judge may have been trying to teach a lesson in respect, his methods were unacceptable. He suggested that the group of students should have simply been asked to leave the courtroom if they were perceived to be disrespectful.