A Detroit judge, Kenneth King, is facing a lawsuit after ordering a 15-year-old girl, Eva Goodman, to be handcuffed, put in jail clothes, and subjected to a mock trial during a courtroom field trip.
The incident occurred when Goodman, who had fallen asleep during the judge’s lecture, was publicly reprimanded and detained, Law & Crime reports.
Her family claims that the judge violated her constitutional rights by humiliating her and treating her like a criminal for a minor action.
According to the lawsuit, King acted out of personal offense, escalating the situation far beyond what would be considered reasonable for a judge. After the girl dozed off, he had her handcuffed, forced her into jail clothing, and imprisoned her for hours.
As if that wasn’t enough, the judge also staged a fake trial with her classmates as the jury, broadcast live online. The lawsuit describes this incident as “the antithesis of justice,” accusing King of crossing ethical boundaries and violating Goodman’s rights.
King argues that judicial immunity protects him from any legal repercussions, claiming that as a judge, his actions during courtroom proceedings are protected.
However, the family’s attorney, James Harrington, refutes this claim, arguing that King was not acting in a judicial capacity but instead engaging in behavior that was outside of his legal authority.
The family is seeking damages for the emotional and psychological harm caused to Goodman.