Judge who put teen in handcuffs during field trip is demoted to speeding tickets

DETROIT– A Detroit judge who was subsequently temporarily removed ordering a teenager to put on prison clothes and handcuffs during a field trip is back on the bench, but is assigned to speeding tickets and other relatively minor violations.

Judge Kenneth King lost his courtroom duties in August and was ordered social-emotional training by the chief judge of the 36th District Court. Instead of handling important hearings on major crimes, he returned to the court’s traffic division this week.

“We appreciate his efforts in preparing for this role and wish him success as he transitions to this new responsibility,” Judge William McConico said in a written statement.

A message seeking comment from an attorney representing King was not immediately returned Thursday.

King got in trouble for singling out a 15-year-old girl because she fell asleep and had what he said was a bad attitude while attending his courtroom with other teenagers.

He ordered Eva Goodman into prison garb and handcuffs – all while the excursion took place via livestream video. King also threatened her with juvenile detention in front of her peers before releasing her.

The girl’s mother, Latoreya Till, said she may have been tired because they had no permanent address.

Until has has filed a lawsuit, seeking more than $75,000 for “infliction of fear and serious emotional distress.”

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