Detroit Judge Temporarily Removed From Docket After Teen Was Handcuffed For Sleeping

DETROIT — A Detroit judge who ordered a teen girl be handcuffed and put into a jail clothes for falling asleep in his courtroom during a field trip has been temporarily removed from the docket, according to a statement from the chief judge in the district.

The 36th District Court determined Judge Kenneth King failed to live up to the standard of the court after a swift and thorough internal investigation, according to the statement.

"We hope that these steps will help to reassure the public of the 36th District Court's dedication to serving our community with integrity and fairness," 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

In addition, King was ordered to undergo training "to address the underlying issues," McConico added.

McConico did not say how long King would be removed from the docket.

"We sincerely hope that this incident does not undermine our longstanding relationships with local schools. Our thoughts and actions are now with the student and her family, and we are committed to taking these corrective measures to demonstrate that this incident is an isolated occurrence," McConico said.

The 15-year-old girl was visiting King's courtroom with other students as part of a field trip that was organized by The Greening of Detroit. The non-profit put together the field trip to give students the opportunity to see a real life trial.

During the visit, King noticed the teen girl falling asleep, WXYZ reported.

King then ordered the girl to change into jail clothes and wear handcuffs after he said her "whole attitude and her whole disposition that disturbed me," WXYZ reported.

The teen's mother told the Detroit Free Press that her daughter was likely tired because the family currently does not have a permanent place to stay.

"My daughter is hurt. She is feeling scared. She didn't want to go to work. She feels like as if her peers went against her. She was real nervous and intimidated," the girl's mother told the newspaper.

King defended his actions, telling WXYZ that he wanted the experience to look and feel real, though he probably wasn't going to put the girl in jail.

"I wanted to get through to her, show how serious this is and how you are to conduct yourself inside of a courtroom," King told the news outlet.

King has served on the 36th District Court since 2006 and oversees the court's criminal division, according to his biography on the court’s website. He graduated from Michigan State University and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, according to the website.