A Detroit judge who was temporarily removed after ordering a teenager into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip is back on the bench but assigned to speeding tickets and other relatively minor offenses.

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

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

  • lectricleopard@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    104
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    3 months ago

    I’m glad they took action, and still found work he’s less likely to screw up. The courts are backed up everywhere, so the public gets the best possible result.

  • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    84
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    He was just doing what those in the system are paid to do, inflicting trauma on the poor and minorities. How was he supposed to know it wasn’t ok to handcuff an unhoused child and threaten them with imprisonment in a humiliating spectacle in front of their peers/on stream for sleeping?

  • NegativeInf@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    69
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    I hope he is personally sued for emotional distress amongst other things. Big egos need to be shown the door.

    • Confused_Emus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      23
      ·
      3 months ago

      The girl’s mother, Latoreya Till, said she may have been tired because they don’t have a permanent address. King told TV stations that he apologized.

      Till has filed a lawsuit, seeking more than $75,000 for “inflicting fear and severe emotional distress.”

      Seems to be the case according to the article.

    • RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      73
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      We really don’t want to live in a world where judges have to fear making decisions.

      This is bad. That would be much worse.

      Edit ITT: People who desperately need to pick up a history book

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        56
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        3 months ago

        We absolutely do want to live in a world where judges have to fear making decisions like putting innocent teenagers into jail clothes and handcuffs.

      • SMillerNL@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        49
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        3 months ago

        I think decisions they take outside their role as a judge can be punished just fine.

      • Pissman2020@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        19
        ·
        3 months ago

        He didn’t make that decision as a judge performing his duties, he made it as an egotistical dickhead being an egotistical dickhead

      • APassenger@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        17
        ·
        3 months ago

        Qualifies immunity only exists for certain things. More than most would think. So if he’s personally liable, I’m in favor of it.

        Cops, judges, and other government officials need to… I dunno, be familiar with the Constitution they likely swore to support.

      • IAmNotACat@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        10
        ·
        3 months ago

        It’s not like this was a case that was brought before him. He didn’t have to decide anything.

        Just like you didn’t have to decide to be a condescending prick when people started disagreeing with you.

      • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        3 months ago

        Edit ITT: People who desperately need to pick up a history book

        You’re the one arguing that people in positions of power shouldn’t be held accountable if they abuse their power.

      • SoJB@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        18
        ·
        3 months ago

        Typical liberal “rules for me but not for thee” BS. And to top it off, you add the cute little sneer at the end as an edit.

        Christ you people are predictable.

  • wjrii@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    40
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    AKA it’s going to be a big god-damned mess to actually get rid of you, so here’s the lowest-level work we have for your job description. Good luck in your own case and with re-election, asshole.

    Honestly, the fact that there were any professional consequences at all is a bit of a relief. Anybody with half a brain and an ounce of empathy could tell he pulled an ego-driven schoolyard-bully move and deserves to be punished, but with nothing “officially official” being done to the girl, it was always going to be hard to turn it into a removal from an elected position.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    16
    ·
    3 months ago

    Till has filed a lawsuit, seeking more than $75,000 for “inflicting fear and severe emotional distress.”

    I hope they win. I hope they get more. I hope it’s the key to them finding permanent housing.