A Detroit judge is facing backlash after he ordered a 16-year-old girl to wear handcuffs and a jail uniform for falling asleep in his courtroom during a field trip, Fox 2 reports.
The incident between the teen, who was on a field trip with Greening of Detroit, an environmental non-profit, and Judge Kenneth King unfolded on Tuesday (Aug. 13) in the 36th District Court. It was caught on video by the court via Zoom.
“You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I’m putting you in the back, understood?” King told the girl.
The judge continued to condemn the teenager for her behavior, alleging she fell asleep twice in his courtroom.
“Why are you being disrespectful to this court?” King said. “You sleep at home, in your bed – not in court. And quite frankly, I don’t like your attitude.”
“What is your problem?” the judge asked, to which the girl responded: “I apologize, I’m just tired.”
At one point, King ordered the teen to put on handcuffs and a prison uniform.
“I’m thinking maybe she needs to go to the juvenile detention facility. You do understand we have a jail for kids?” King told the girl.
According to reports, King said he never intended to send the girl to juvenile detention, but the judge described the experience to all of the children on the field trip.
“Not a very pleasant place to be in,” King said. “You guys enjoy your freedom, don’t you?”
“Yes,” the teens responded.
At another point during the field trip, an attorney in the courtroom attempted to intervene.
“She’s nervous, doesn’t do well with public speaking. Didn’t want to necessarily speak today, and is just tired, that’s all,” the attorney told King.
Greening of Detroit condemned the judge’s behavior following the incident.
“It is unfortunate that he chose to make an example of a 16-year-old girl in front of her peers,” Greening of Detroit said in a statement. “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. We have spoken to the student and her parents and the young lady was traumatized by the judge’s unnecessary disciplinary treatment and scolding.”
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