A field trip to Detroit’s 36th District Court took an unexpected turn when a 15-year-old student, part of the non-profit organization The Greening of Detroit, found herself in a Jail Uniform and handcuffs after dozing off during a courtroom session presided over by Judge Kenneth King. The incident, intended as a learning experience about the legal system, has ignited debate about appropriate courtroom conduct and judicial authority.
The field trip, designed to expose students to various civic and educational experiences, included a visit to Judge King’s courtroom. Initially, Judge King engaged with the students, answering their questions before court proceedings commenced. However, his demeanor shifted when he noticed a 15-year-old girl briefly falling asleep.
“You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I’m gonna put you in back understood,” Judge King reportedly told the student from his bench, setting the stage for a dramatic escalation. According to Judge King, it wasn’t merely the act of falling asleep that prompted his reaction, but the teenager’s subsequent “attitude.”
“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,” Judge King explained to 7 News Detroit. “I wanted to get through to her, show how serious this is and how you are to conduct yourself inside of a courtroom.”
To emphasize his point, Judge King ordered the young girl to change into a jail uniform and be held in lock-up, a decision that has since drawn criticism and sparked discussions about judicial overreach.
From Courtroom Seat to Jail Uniform: Judge King’s “Lesson”
Judge King defended his actions, stating, “That’s not something that normally happens. But I felt compelled to do it because I didn’t like the child’s attitude,” and adding, “I haven’t been disrespected like that in a very long time.” He further elaborated on his intent, revealing he threatened the 15-year-old with detention at a juvenile facility, even vividly describing disturbing conditions within such facilities to the student in court.
In a move that further blurred the lines between courtroom procedure and disciplinary theater, Judge King involved the other students present, asking them to vote on whether the teenager should be sent to juvenile detention. Ultimately, he released her, claiming his actions were a form of “Scared Straight” aimed at instilling respect for the court.
“Was I really going to do that? Probably not. Could I have? Probably so. But that’s not what I want to do to a kid who’s there on a field trip,” King clarified. “Do I think I was heavy handed in what I did? No, I don’t. Because I’ll do whatever it needs to be done to reach these kids and make sure that they don’t end up in front of me.”
Legal Experts Question Judge’s Jail Uniform Approach
However, Judge King’s methods have been met with skepticism and concern within the legal community. Larry Dubin, a former attorney specializing in legal ethics and a law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy, voiced strong disapproval.
“Just totally inappropriate. There were so many other ways in which to have helped that young girl learn,” Dubin asserted. “I have never seen anything quite like what I saw that took place in the courtroom.”
Veronica Valentine McNally, Director of Trial Advocacy at Michigan State University’s College of Law, acknowledged the importance of teaching courtroom etiquette to young people. “It can be beneficial for students to learn proper courtroom etiquette and to understand the importance of courtroom proceedings, which helps them appreciate the seriousness of the environment while gaining valuable insights,” she stated. However, she did not explicitly endorse Judge King’s drastic measures involving the jail uniform.
Non-profit and Parents Respond to Jail Uniform Incident
The Greening of Detroit non-profit, responsible for organizing the field trip, has expressed serious concerns about the incident. Chairperson Marissa Ebersole Wood released a statement condemning Judge King’s actions.
“A group of minors visited the courtroom of Judge Kenneth King at 36th District Court in Detroit on a field trip today. It is unfortunate that he chose to make an example of a 15-year-old girl in front of her peers. He made her wear handcuffs and a jail uniform and yelled at her for falling asleep in his courtroom. Although the Judge was trying to teach a lesson of respect, his methods were unacceptable. The group of students should have been simply asked to leave the courtroom if he thought they were disrespectful. We have spoken to the student and her parents and the young lady was traumatized by the Judge’s unnecessary disciplinary treatment and scolding.”
Judge King, however, remains steadfast in his belief that his actions were justified and ultimately beneficial for the teenager, reiterating his intention to ensure young people understand the gravity of courtroom decorum and the potential consequences of disrespecting the legal system. The debate continues regarding the appropriateness of using a jail uniform and simulated detention as a disciplinary tool for a minor on a school field trip.
