16-Year-Old Detroit Teen Handcuffed After Falling Asleep During Courtroom Field Trip

detroit courtroom teens

By Danielle Ong , Parent Herald Aug 16, 05:03 am

A 16-year-old girl who was visiting a courtroom in Detroit as part of a field trip was placed in handcuffs and made to wear a jail uniform after the judge caught her sleeping.

The 16-year-old girl, whose identity was not revealed, was visiting the 36th District Court as part of a field trip among children of a three-week program with the nonprofit The Greening of Detroit. The courtroom visit aimed to give the students an opportunity to learn about the legal system and watch a real trial play out.

Before the defense and prosecution were called to enter the court, Judge Kenneth King addressed the students and answered the questions. That was also when he noticed the 16-year-old sleeping.

"You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I'm gonna put you in back, understood?" King said, according to a video of his remarks obtained by the Associated Press.

King later said the teen must be handcuffed, change into a jail uniform, and sit in lock up. He also threatened the teen with time at a juvenile detention facility.

Detroit Judge Orders To Handcuff 16-Year-Old for Sleeping in Court

In an interview with 7 News Detroit, King said his decision came after the teen gave him "attitude" for falling asleep.

"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," King said. "I wanted to get through to her, show how serious this is and how you are to conduct yourself inside of a courtroom."

The teen was released after the judge had other students vote if she should be sent to the juvenile detention facility.

Speaking to Detroit Free Press, Latoreya Till, the mother of the teenage girl, said her daughter likely lacked sleep because the family did not have a permanent place to stay. She also added that her daughter was "nervous and intimidated" following the incident.

King was temporarily taken off his criminal case docket. According to Fox News, King will be receiving "necessary training to address the underlying issues that contributed" to the incident.