Judge handcuffs 16-year-old visitor for taking a nap
In the United States, a judge has caused a stir with a questionable lesson. He had a 16-year-old girl placed in handcuffs and made to wear prison clothing. Her friends are outraged, and even the court has distanced itself from the action.
A US judge harshly punished a teenager who fell asleep during a court visit in the US city of Detroit. The 16-year-old had to wear handcuffs and prison clothing, as reported by TV station WXYZ. Judge Kenneth King asked the other children participating in the environmental group "The Greening of Detroit" trip if the girl should be sent to a juvenile detention center.
"If you fall asleep in my courtroom again, I'll bring you in from the back, understand?" he said as he caught the girl napping. He then had her put on the handcuffs and prison clothing.
The teenager's attitude didn't sit well with the judge, who said he wanted to make it "very real" for her, even if there was likely no chance of sending her to prison. "It was her whole attitude and behavior that bothered me," King told WXYZ. "I wanted to get through to her, show her how serious this is and how to behave in a courtroom." He said he would do "whatever it takes" to reach these kids and ensure they don't end up before him.
16-year-old reportedly traumatized
In a statement, "The Greening of Detroit" said the "young woman was traumatized." While the judge may have wanted to teach her a lesson about respect, his methods were unacceptable, said the group's director, Marissa Ebersole Wood. "The student group should have simply been asked to leave the courtroom if he felt they were being disrespectful."
Judge Aliyah Sabree, the second-in-command of the court, released a statement making it clear that King's behavior did not meet the court's standards.
The European Union expressed concern over the incident, as it involves the rights of a minor in the judicial system. The European Union's Commission on Human Rights called for an investigation into the matter to ensure the protection of juvenile rights in the United States.
The American Bar Association, a professional organization for lawyers in the United States, condemned the judge's actions and requested an ethics review, stating that such behavior is contrary to the principles of professionalism and respect for minors.
