The judge, who had been temporarily removed from his duties for ordering a teenage girl into jail clothes and handcuffs during a courtroom field trip, has returned to the bench, but with a reduced role.
RELATED STORIES: Diddy Appeals A Judge’s Decision To Deny Him Bail, Promising Drug Testing And No Female visitors If He’s Released
Judge Kenneth King, who previously presided over major felony hearings, has been reassigned to the traffic division to handle cases such as speeding tickets and minor offenses. In August, he lost his courtroom duties and was instructed to undergo social-emotional training by the chief judge of the 36th District Court, as reported by ABC News. Chief Judge William McConico expressed appreciation for Judge King’s efforts in preparing for his new role and wished him success in this transition in a written statement.
The King’s attorney, Todd Perkins, highlighted his client’s eagerness to fulfill any role in the court. His dismissal from previous duties stemmed from an incident in which he chastised a 15-year-old girl, Eva Goodman, for falling asleep and displaying what he perceived as a bad attitude during her visit to his courtroom on a field trip. In response, King ordered her to wear jail clothes and handcuffs while the incident was live-streamed. He also threatened to send her to juvenile detention in front of her peers.
RELATED STORIES: Update: Detroit Judge Temporarily Removed from Docket After Controversial Handcuffing of Teen Sleeping in Court
The girl’s mother, Latoreya Till, explained that her daughter may have been tired because they currently lack a permanent home. King has since apologized for the incident, telling local TV stations that he regrets his actions. However, Till filed a lawsuit against King, seeking more than $75,000 in damages for “inflicting fear and severe emotional distress” on her daughter during the field trip.
“It’s been pretty devastating. Eva doesn’t want to come outside. She doesn’t want to be involved with no one else but her family, relatives. It’s hard for her to sleep at night. She’s asking me, ‘Why the judge do me like this out of all the kids?’ ”
