Detroit judge's use of YouTube chat scrutinized

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A Free Press investigation found evidence that suggests embattled 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King routinely engages with commenters on the court's YouTube livestream — including in the middle of court proceedings.

At least once, he appeared to miss a lawyer's objection while monitoring the online chat.

On another occasion, the court's account expressed an opinion in the chat about a defendant and case five days before determining there was enough evidence to send it to trial.

Two judicial officials with some oversight powers of courts told the Free Press a judge commenting in a live chat during a hearing was inappropriate. And a national judicial ethics expert said a judge expressing an opinion about a case is problematic. Even reading comments during a hearing could be improper, if posts reveal details about the case not presented in court yet.

King is currently facing a federal lawsuit filed by a teen he recently detained and threatened with jail time after she fell asleep during a presentation in his courtroom.

Read more of the latest on the judge from Dave Boucher and Darcie Moran.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit judge's use of YouTube chat scrutinized