A man with a suspended license joined his court Zoom call while driving, astonishing the judge and his legal team.
The trial, which took place in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 15, surrounded a man named Corey Harris and a case involving him driving with a suspended license.
After introducing herself, the assistant public defender stated that “Mr. Harris should be [present] via Zoom,” and almost on cue, Harris joined the call.
Immediately, District Judge J. Cedric Simpson noticed that Harris was wearing a seatbelt and that the vehicle he was in was clearly in motion.
Judge Simpson – who was visibly astonished – then asked Harris if he was behind the wheel.
“Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office,” Harris said. “So just give me one second…I’m parking right now.”
While the judge processed what was going on, the Zoom cameras pivoted towards the public defenders, who looked disappointed and just as bewildered as the judge; others sitting in the back of the courtroom were seen trying their best to hide their laughter.
Eventually, the bemused judge threw his pen on the table, put one hand on his face and asked Harris if he was stationary.
He was not.
Upon parking, Harris’ legal team requested an adjournment of the case for four weeks, but Judge Simpson wasn’t having it.
“Okay, so maybe I don’t understand something,” the judge said. “This is a driving while license suspended [case] and he was just driving…and he didn’t have a license.”
When the assistant public defender confirmed what he had said, Judge Simpson reviewed Harris’ paperwork and briefly mulled over what was likely the easiest decision he would make that day.
Harris’ bond was revoked, and he was ordered to turn himself in to the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that evening.
The full video of Harris’ trial can be viewed in the video player below.