Detroit judge sued after putting teen in handcuffs and prison garb on field trip

DETROIT (AP) — Attorneys for a teenager who was dressed in prison garb and handcuffs during a trip to a Detroit court filed a lawsuit against a judge on Wednesday, accusing him of humiliation, wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.

These are the latest events since Judge Kenneth King reprimanded 15-year-old Eva Goodman for falling asleep and what he called misbehaving during an Aug. 13 visit to the 36th District Court.

King was relieved of his courtroom duties last week until he completes his training, which has not yet begun.

His actions were “extreme and outrageous and intended to cause fear and severe emotional distress,” says the lawsuit, which seeks compensation of more than $75,000.

Goodman was on a field trip with the nonprofit organization The Greening of Detroit when she fell asleep. Her mother later said she may have been tired because they had no permanent address.

King said it was her attitude that led to the prison garb, handcuffs and stern words – all livestreamed from his courtroom. He also threatened her with juvenile detention in front of her classmates before releasing her.

King “acted as producer, broadcaster, complainant, arresting officer, fact-finder, judge and disciplinary officer,” attorneys Gary Felty Jr. and James Harrington said in the lawsuit.

A request for comment from King's attorney went unanswered Wednesday.

“I wanted it to look and feel very real to them, even though there's probably no real chance I'll put them in jail,” King told a television station last week.

The teenager's mother, Latoreya Till, told reporters a week later that her daughter was in trouble.

“It was pretty devastating,” said Till. “Eva doesn't want to go out. She doesn't want to have anything to do with anyone other than her family, her relatives. She can hardly sleep at night. She asks me: 'Why is the judge doing this to me?'”

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