Judge Handcuffs Girl During Court Field Trip

During a field trip to a Detroit court, a 16-year-old girl was put in jail clothes and handcuffed by Judge Kenneth King after he perceived her attitude as disrespectful. King, who likened his actions to a 'Scared Straight' initiative, aimed to demonstrate the seriousness of courtroom behavior, stating, 'I wanted this to look and feel very real to her.' Following her falling asleep in court, he threatened her with juvenile detention and involved other students in questioning her fate. The Greening of Detroit, the organization that arranged the trip, condemned the judge's methods, calling them unacceptable and traumatizing for the girl. Critics argue there were better ways to handle the situation than resorting to such punitive measures. The court's chief judge was unavailable for comment amidst the backlash against King’s decision.