this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2024
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416
US judge demoted after detaining teenage girl during field trip to courtroom (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 months ago by MicroWave to c/news
41 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Judge faces lawsuit after forcing student to put on jail garments and handcuffs and enter isolated holding cell

A Detroit judge who briefly detained a teenage girl who fell asleep in his courtroom during a school field trip to learn about the justice system was demoted to presiding over traffic court as he faces a federal lawsuit.

Judge Kenneth King was moved to the state court’s traffic division after the incident on 13 August. King was temporarily removed from the bench as he completed mandatory training following his actions.

“We appreciate his efforts in preparing for this role, and wish him success as he transitions into this new responsibility,” said the chief judge, William McConico, in a statement.

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[–] [email protected] 162 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

The bigger picture here is that he had an active YouTube livestream with roughly a 1000 fans that he used to interact with while in cases over the last few years. He even repositioned the cameras for them while he was harrasing that poor girl.

Its clear that his treatment of her was not only an ego trip, but one done for views.

[–] [email protected] 69 points 2 months ago (3 children)

What in the fuck? I'm surprised they even let cameras in the courtroom, let alone let the judge be a streamer!

[–] Bassman1805 46 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I can see a certain angle where it makes sense: youth/general outreach, educating people about the court system. Something a little more interactive/entertaining than CSPAN, but more real than Judge Judy.

But you throw "influencer culture" into the mix and you've got a disastrous recipe for The Chat influencing the outcome of cases.

[–] Zahille7 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The only way I could see it potentially working is if there's like a team who handles the whole thing.

Maybe there's one or two cameras, one facing the courtroom and the other facing the judge. The judge doesn't see any screens of any kind, and doesn't have access to a keyboard or anything to interact with a chat, if there even is one; ideally there would be no chat and it would just be a stream you watch. If there is a chat, someone else should be handling it and possibly not even in the same room.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

My link goes into it, but thats what the court oversight commission in the state wants. An inhouse system where streams and their features are centrally controlled. They have not been able to get funding to stand that up, but they have been advocating for it.

Their current recommendation is that YouTube comments be disabled, but they don't have the legal mandate to enforce that apparently. This judge's shitty behaviour may help them make that case at least.

[–] stoly 9 points 2 months ago (2 children)

They are public places with public proceedings. For the most part, you can just go in and sit down and watch a case, assuming there is space.

[–] humorlessrepost 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

My local court house makes all non-lawyers leave their phones in their cars. You can watch all you want, but only with your eyes. They won’t let you through the metal detector with a phone.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Well there’s a difference between them streaming things to the public for the sake of transparency, and you taking private videos for god knows what.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

It varies wildly by location as to whether or not recording equipment is allowed in. Why do you think courtroom sketch artists are still a thing?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Hmm the world has already turned more dystopian than I had assumed

[–] macarthur_park 78 points 2 months ago (2 children)

King is facing a federal lawsuit filed by Eva Goodman, 15, and her mother, Latoreya Till, after Goodman was forced to put on jail garments, handcuffed and put in an isolated holding cell during an educational trip to King’s courtroom.

The trip certainly was educational, though probably not in the way the school intended.

[–] pdxfed 6 points 2 months ago

But perhaps exactly what was (unfortunately) needed;

Don't assume institutions and those in power or authority are anything more than fallible efforts. Ever.

[–] b3an 4 points 2 months ago

Ironically the judge got himself an educatin’ too didn’t he. Fuck around power tripping and find out.

[–] [email protected] 66 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I was so, so waiting for consequences to finally reach this asshole. Reminder that this teenage student and her family *were experiencing homelessness and was apparently exhausted trying to meet all her responsibilities! She needed an advocate, not a bully. This is the type of person that demands respect from you, while not valuing you as a human, beyond considering what you can do for him. I hope he endures excruciating traffic cases until he is removed from the bench...

EDIT: Changed to people-first language.

[–] Aarrodri 60 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Good. Powertrip consequences.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Demoted for illegally kidnapping a child. Wild. Better than nothing I guess.

[–] Avatar_of_Self 23 points 2 months ago (1 children)

He's an elected judge. I don't know Michigan's laws but there might not be much more that can be done by the court administration themselves. I personally also took Chief Judge McConico's statement as a tactful 'fuck you' to Judge King.

[–] stoly 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yep. Everyone wants blood but can't get past the fact that there are laws and procedures.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Innocent until proven guilty in matters of law, for better AND for worse.

[–] VelvetStorm 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ya, that's only when you are on trial, and he isn't on trial or even being legally charged with a crime. There is also a video of the incident, so there really is zero ambiguity here.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Yes, hence the "AND for worse" part

[–] nothingcorporate 13 points 2 months ago

Yeah I'm not at all surprised it happened, I am surprised there was some sort of consequence, weak as it is.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 months ago

Imagine getting him for your traffic court hearing.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 months ago

Dude had a fucking power boner.

He saw a tired teenager who was bothering nobody as an opportunity to wave his dick around.

[–] Etterra 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If I was the family of this girl I'd want to sure this dude so hard he'd end up living in a box under a bridge. Then go find him and take away his box.

[–] VelvetStorm 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Ya, I agree that they should 100% get some sort of monetary compensation for this. The issue is that the judge has a lot of money and can get a much better lawyer than them. They are already close to being homeless so I don't imagine they can afford a good lawyer, there may be 1 or 2 who would take the case Pro Bono but I'm betting most would offer to do it for 40% of the winnings.

[–] piecat 5 points 2 months ago

40% of the winnings is a bargain. The difference in good lawyers is both the time spend on your case, and how much they win.

That 60% wouldn't be gotten without the lawyer.

[–] Etterra 3 points 2 months ago

Yeah I know. We live in hell.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago

This guy gets demoted and Eileen Cannon gets nothing? Total BS

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

On a side article about her suing this asshole, there is the following quote:

Eventually, King asked Goodman's peers by a show of hands to indicate whether he should let her go or send her to jail. Amid nervous laughter, most agreed he should show leniency, according to the video, which has since been removed from YouTube.

What the actual frack? How do people like this become a judge?

The lawsuit lists a litany of alleged violations of constitutional rights. That includes unreasonable search and seizures, being detained without due process, being compelled to provide evidence against herself, not getting the chance to hire a lawyer of her choosing and protection from "unusual punishment."

Yeah, this. When you don't even know the basic laws that you're supposed to uphold, how the frack do you become a judge?