‘He crossed the line’: Wayne County judge sued for humiliating teen during courtroom visit

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – The family of a teen who was handcuffed and forced to put on a jail inmate uniform has filed a lawsuit against the judge who they said humiliated the child during a field trip to his courtroom.

The 54-page federal civil rights lawsuit identifies Judge Kenneth King, Universal Protection Services d.b.a Allied Universal Security Services, LLC, and two court officers as defendants.

"Basically, I just want Judge King to take accountability for the way that he humiliated my daughter,” said Latoreya Till, the teen’s mom.

The 15-year-old was part of a group working with The Greening of Detroit’s Green Corps Youth Employment Program when they visited King’s courtroom in the 36th District Court.

Lawyers claim King tried making an example of the teen after she’d fallen asleep in his courtroom.

“He crossed the line,” said James Harrington, an attorney with the Fieger Law Firm.

Till and her attorney claim the teen initially apologized to Judge King for falling asleep. Till said her daughter was likely tired because they don’t have a permanent place to live.

Lawyers representing the family said violations against the teen include malicious prosecution, unlawful arrest, intentional infliction of emotional distress, vicarious liability, and four additional counts.

“As far as Eva knows, this was very, very real to her,” said Harrington. “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.”

A video of the courtroom drama was posted online but has since been removed.

The federal lawsuit follows King’s temporary removal from his docket for additional training.

Wayne State University also announced that King would no longer be serving as an adjunct professor due to the incident in his courtroom.

“I feel like he owes her a public apology,” Till said. “Not only that. He owes her more than just a public apology.”

King has not yet responded to requests for an interview or statement.

The teen’s mother said her daughter is so traumatized she hasn’t been able to leave her home nor speak with anyone besides family.