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Detroit Judge Removed After Ordering Handcuffs for Drowsy Teen
Judge Kenneth King Temporarily Reassigned for Training
Incident Sparked Public Outcry and Suspension
A Detroit District Court judge has been temporarily removed from his docket and assigned training after he ordered a 15-year-old girl visiting his courtroom to be handcuffed for falling asleep during a field trip.
Judge Kenneth King was removed from the docket on Monday, May 2, 2023, following a public outcry over the incident, which occurred on April 28.
According to reports, the girl, identified only as Jane Doe, was on a field trip with her class when she fell asleep in the courtroom. King ordered her to be handcuffed and detained for several hours, despite the fact that she had not been charged with any crime.
- The incident sparked outrage among legal experts and civil rights activists, who condemned King's actions as excessive and humiliating.
- The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the matter.
- King has since apologized for his actions, saying that he “overreacted” to the situation.
The incident has raised questions about the role of judges in the juvenile justice system and the use of restraints on children.
According to a 2021 report by the National Juvenile Defender Center, Black children are disproportionately likely to be handcuffed and detained in juvenile court.
Experts say that the use of restraints on children can be traumatic and harmful, and should only be used as a last resort.
King's suspension is a reminder that judges must exercise their authority fairly and with compassion.