In a shocking display of judicial overreach, Detroit Judge Kenneth King is now facing a lawsuit after he reportedly humiliated a 15-year-old girl during a field trip to his courtroom. The incident, which has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the abuse of power in our legal system, has led the girl’s family to sue King for violating her civil rights.
The incident unfolded on August 13, when Eva Goodman, a high school student, was visiting the 36th District Court with a nonprofit group, The Greening of Detroit. Like many teenagers, Eva was struggling with fatigue, and she dozed off during the court session. Judge King, rather than showing understanding or compassion, decided to make an example out of her in the most extreme way possible.
When King noticed Eva had fallen asleep, he quickly woke her and issued a stern warning: “You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I’m gonna put you in the back, understood?” This public scolding was just the beginning. When Eva, likely embarrassed and confused, allegedly talked back, King escalated the situation. He ordered a court officer to handcuff the girl and force her to wear a jail jumpsuit—broadcasting the entire incident on a live stream for the world to see.
The lawsuit, filed in Michigan federal court, accuses Judge King of “extreme and outrageous” behavior, claiming his actions were designed to inflict “fear and severe emotional distress” on the teenager. Eva’s family is seeking over $75,000 in damages, arguing that King acted well outside the bounds of his judicial authority. The lawsuit’s attorneys, Gary Felty Jr. and James Harrington, have criticized King for effectively taking on multiple roles: “He acted as producer, broadcaster, complaining witness, arresting officer, finder of fact, judge, and disciplinarian.”
Eva’s mother, Latoreya Till, has described the lasting impact of the judge’s actions on her daughter. “It’s been pretty devastating,” Till said. “Eva doesn’t want to come outside. She doesn’t want to be involved with anyone else but her family. It’s hard for her to sleep at night. She’s asking me, ‘Why did the judge do me like this out of all the kids?’”
Judge King, for his part, initially defended his draconian punishment as a way to teach the girl a lesson about the seriousness of the legal system. He told local news station WXYZ-TV, “It wasn’t so much, in fact, that she had fallen asleep because I have attorneys that fall asleep sometimes, so that’s not too big of a deal. It was her whole attitude and her whole disposition that disturbed me.”
This justification, however, seems thin, especially considering the lasting emotional damage inflicted on a young girl who was simply tired during a long day. King’s actions have sparked a broader debate about the power wielded by judges and the potential for abuse in our legal system.
In a time when respect for authority is paramount, it’s crucial that those in power wield it with wisdom and restraint. Unfortunately, Judge King’s actions reflect a dangerous trend of authority figures overstepping their bounds, using their positions not to serve justice, but to exert control and humiliate those who are most vulnerable. The outcome of this lawsuit will undoubtedly be watched closely as it could set a precedent for how far a judge’s authority can go before it crosses the line into outright abuse.
