A Michigan judge was perplexed when a defendant in a suspended license case called into the court via Zoom while driving his car.
The court proceedings, which took place in Ann Arbor on May 15, centered on Corey Harris, who was required to appear after a clerical error caused him to be charged with driving on a suspended license, according to KTLA. A county judge reinstated Harris’s license in January 2022 but the reinstatement was not uploaded into the state’s computer records, 7 News Detroit reported.
When Harris joined the call, District Judge J. Cedric Simpson noticed that he was wearing a seatbelt while driving his car. Surprised, the judge asked if the defendant was currently driving. (RELATED: Man Leads Cops On 129 MPH Chase Because He Didn’t Want His McDonald’s To Get Cold)
“Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office,” the defendant replied, according to KTLA. “So just give me one second … I’m parking right now.”
The cameras then showed Harris’ public defenders, who also appeared to be puzzled at the defendant’s actions. Others were seen trying to conceal their laughter, KTLA reported.
A district judge in Michigan was shocked when a man with a suspended driver’s license joined a court Zoom call while driving a car. At one point the judge says, “I don’t even know why he would do that.” pic.twitter.com/XlzdNFnfUx
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 29, 2024
“Okay, so maybe I don’t understand something. This is a driving while license suspended [case], and he was just driving, and he didn’t have a license,” the judge said to the public defender, who replied, “That is correct your honor,” according to Fox 13.
The judge then revoked Harris’ bond and ordered him to turn himself into the local county jail by that evening. “I don’t even know why he would do that,” Simpson said.
Harris spent two days in jail and appealed his case with the Michigan Secretary of State to try to solve the issue, 7 News Detroit reported Thursday.
“Always double-check behind these workers because they will say that they will do something and they don’t do it,” Harris told the outlet.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Harris’s license was not suspended and his case had been brought to court due to a clerical error.
