“Lawyer Cat” was amusing when it happened, but now that we are a couple of years removed, there is a general assumption that people know how to navigate Zoom. Speaking of navigating, if you have a court date because you were caught driving without a license, maybe don’t — how should I say this — show up to your Zoom hearing while your camera clearly displays you driving? This isn’t even legal advice, this is just common sense. KTLA has the story:
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.”
Usually we expect judges to be impartial during hearings, but it would be fair game for Judge Simpson to pull a Kanan at this point:
If you’re thinking this sounds like a bit from a sitcom you’d be right, even down to the camera work.
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.
Now, was this dumb? Very. Like, super stupid. And it isn’t like you could use this as a stepping point for a broader discussion about the importance of walkable cities or anything. It would be possible to cut him some slack if the argument was that after asking his entire extended family to drive him to court, a statewide rideshare service boycott, and several hours of trying to hitch hike, driving himself to court was the only way to get there, but unless his doctor’s office and the courthouse are in the same plaza, that would be a very hard sell. Why didn’t he just reschedule his doctor’s appointment until after he had to be in court?
It didn’t take long for the judge to revoke Harris’s bond and tell him to turn himself in to jail by 6 p.m. — he probably drove to that, too. At least now he’ll have some time to think about alternative transportation options.
Video: Judge Dumbfounded By Man With Suspended License Joining Court Zoom Call While Driving [KTLA]
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
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