Wayne County Judge Accused of Humiliating Teen in Courtroom
In Wayne County, parents and community members are expressing outrage against a local judge who’s being sued for allegedly mistreating a teenager during a courtroom visit. The case reportedly involves a 15-year-old girl who was visiting the courtroom as part of a youth employment program educational event.
The lawsuit indicates that the girl, who had fallen asleep in the noisy environment, was forcefully awakened, handcuffed, and made to wear a jail inmate uniform in front of her peers. The family contends that the judge’s actions were unnecessary, humiliating, and has caused the teen severe distress.
“The judge crossed the line,” remarked the plaintiff’s legal representative. The family’s attorney argues that the girl was unlawfully arrested, mistreated, and excessively prosecuted, thereby causing her intentional emotional distress.
The lawsuit also names two court officers, who apparently were involved in the incident, as defendants alongside Universal Protection Services, a security service provider operating in the courtroom. The primary defendant, Judge Kenneth King, so far hasn’t made any public comments on the ongoing case nor granted any interviews regarding the matter.
The teen’s mother, Latoreya Till, is desperately hoping for an apology from the judge. Maintaining her daughter was most likely tired due to their ongoing living instability, she expressed, “I just want Judge King to take accountability for the way he humiliated my daughter”. According to her, the incident has had such a lasting impact on her child that she has been reluctant to leave their home and now only converses with immediate family members.
Further echoing this sentiment, the family’s attorney said, “As far as Eva knows, this was very, very real to her. Very, very scary to her. And somebody in a position of trust, somebody that was in a position of authority and power, is threatening her about jail time. Is threatening her by literally placing her in handcuffs.”
The incident has had repercussions for Judge King. Following the incident, he was temporarily relieved from his docket for additional training. Additionally, Wayne State University, where he served as an adjunct professor, has decided to discontinue his services due to his courtroom conduct.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the trust placed in positions of authority and the impact misguided actions can have on the lives of young impressionable individuals. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Wayne County community and the wider judicial fraternity will respond.
