- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
A teenager on a field trip to see a Detroit court ended up in jail clothes and handcuffs because a judge said he didn’t like her attitude.
Judge Kenneth King even asked other kids in the courtroom Tuesday whether the 16-year-old girl should be taken to juvenile detention, WXYZ-TV reported.
Michigan district Court judges are elected. You can’t just fire an elected official. His term ends January 1, 2027.
So funny story, even elected officials generally have recalls or other methods to reign them in when they are completely out of line.
This judge has been removed from the docket and will undergo training due to this incident. He wasn’t removed from office, but he can’t do any more damage until he goes through the training.
Fortunately this particular judicial position does require the officeholder to be a licensed attorney in good standing and answerable to the bar, which gives extra disciplinary and training options.
Amazingly, most judges do not have that requirement. In fact, even SCOTUS justices don’t have to be attorneys. They all are, but there’s not actually a requirement for it.