Detroit Judge Faces Consequences After Humiliating Black Teen in Court

The actions of Detroit judge Kenneth King in the 36th District Court have sparked outrage and consequences after a video of him forcing a Black teen to wear jail clothes and handcuffs for falling asleep in his courtroom went viral.

In the now-deleted video, 15-year-old Eva Goodman was scolded by King for falling asleep during a field trip visit to the courtroom. King accused her of “giving him attitude” and ordered her to plead her case among her peers as to why she shouldn’t be sent to juvenile detention.

Goodman’s mother revealed that their struggles to find housing, along with the teen’s job and other responsibilities, contributed to her drowsiness that day. Despite King defending his actions, Wayne State University has taken action by suspending him from his Fall 2024 courses on the judicial process and criminal procedure/investigation.

A statement from Wayne State University explained that King, a part-time faculty member, has been reassigned courses to other instructors following the suspension. Additionally, King has been temporarily removed from his court docket and ordered to undergo training to address the underlying issues that led to Goodman’s humiliation.

The incident has sparked a conversation about the abuse of power and mistreatment of individuals in the justice system, prompting calls for accountability and reform. As the fallout continues, the community is watching closely to see how justice will be served in this case.