Teen Placed in Handcuffs for Falling Asleep in Court Sparks Outrage from Mother

A courtroom incident involving a 15-year-old Detroit girl placed in handcuffs has sparked a wave of criticism after her mother condemned the judge’s actions.

Latoreya Till, mother of Eva Goodman, is speaking out after her daughter was handcuffed and reprimanded for dozing off during a courtroom visit earlier this week.

The incident unfolded on Tuesday, August 12, when Goodman and her peers from The Greening Project—a local non-profit focused on improving Detroit’s green infrastructure—attended a session presided over by 36th District Judge Kenneth King.

The group was there as part of an educational visit to learn about the legal system.

However, what was intended as an enlightening experience took a distressing turn when Goodman, exhausted from a late night due to the family’s unstable housing situation, reportedly fell asleep several times during the proceedings.

Video footage from the courtroom shows Judge King sharply rebuking Goodman, ordering her to wake up and threatening to have her detained if she fell asleep again.

Moments later, King instructed officers to remove the teen from the courtroom, where she was made to sit outside in handcuffs for two hours. When she was finally allowed back inside, Judge King continued to berate the young girl, even going so far as to ask her coworkers if they believed she should be jailed for her behavior.

Goodman’s mother, Latoreya Till, shared the toll the incident has taken on her daughter’s well-being.

“My daughter is hurt. She’s feeling scared. She didn’t want to go to work. She feels like her peers went against her. She was real nervous and intimidated,” Till told WXYZ-TV Detroit.

Till also emphasized the challenges their family faces, explaining that they currently lack a permanent address and are often forced to move from place to place.

“We have to bounce around because we don’t have a stable home right now. That night, we got in late, and usually, when she goes to work, she’s up and planting trees or being active,” Till added, highlighting the fatigue her daughter was experiencing.

The Greening Project, where Goodman works, has been praised for its efforts to enhance Detroit’s environment through green initiatives.

The organization allows teens like Goodman to engage in meaningful work while learning valuable skills. However, the fallout from this incident has left the young girl shaken and apprehensive about returning to her duties.

Critics argue that Judge King’s response was excessive and fails to consider the broader context of Goodman’s life, particularly the hardships she faces at home.

The situation has drawn attention to the intersection of poverty, education, and the justice system, with many questioning whether more compassionate alternatives could have been employed to handle the situation.

As the community rallies around Goodman, calls for accountability and a reevaluation of how young people are treated in legal settings continue to grow.

Eva Goodman is left grappling with the emotional aftermath, hoping to find support and understanding as she navigates this difficult chapter.