Teen Sues Detroit Judge After Being Detained for Falling Asleep During Courtroom Field Trip
A Detroit teenager, Eva Goodman, is suing 36th District Judge Kenneth King after he detained her for falling asleep during a courtroom field trip. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that Judge King violated Goodman’s constitutional rights by acting outside his judicial authority when he detained, yelled at, and threatened her with jail time.
Goodman, 15, who does not have a permanent home, was part of a nonprofit group visiting King’s courtroom when the incident occurred. After she fell asleep, Judge King ordered her to be taken into custody, where she was reportedly forced to wear a jail uniform and placed in handcuffs. She spent about two hours in an isolated holding cell before being brought back to the courtroom, where King publicly reprimanded her.
The lawsuit, filed by Goodman and her mother, Latoreya Till, argues that the judge’s actions were unconstitutional. It highlights violations such as unreasonable search and seizure, lack of due process, and cruel and unusual punishment. The family is seeking more than $75,000 for each of the eight alleged constitutional violations.
Judge King, who has been temporarily removed from the docket by Chief Judge William McConico pending necessary training, defended his actions in an earlier interview. However, he acknowledged the possibility of a lawsuit.
Goodman’s legal team argues that Judge King’s conduct was beyond the scope of his judicial duties, as court was not in session when the incident occurred. The lawsuit also targets the private security services and court officers involved in the incident, accusing them of complying with orders that were not legally justified.
The case raises significant questions about the limits of judicial authority and the protection of constitutional rights, especially in situations involving minors and those in vulnerable circumstances.
