A field trip to the Detroit’s 36th District Court took an unexpected turn when a 16-year-old girl was handcuffed and made to wear a jail uniform after falling asleep in the courtroom.
The incident occurred during a visit organized by The Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit dedicated to youth education and community engagement. The students were visiting the court to learn about the legal system.
“You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I’m gonna put you in back, understood?” Judge Kenneth King told the sleeping teenager.
True to his word, Judge King had the teen handcuffed and dressed in a jail uniform. He says he didn’t like her attitude. A defense attorney who was already in the court for another case even represented her.
The judge then let her peers decide whether she should be sent to a juvenile detention center.
“It is unfortunate that Judge Kenneth King chose to make an example of a 16-year-old girl in front of her peers. 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,” said The Greening of Detroit.
The incident has sparked debate over whether the judge’s actions were appropriate or excessive. Watch parts of the incident above.
