A Michigan judge was left stunned when a man with a suspended license joined a virtual hearing.
The man himself, Corey Harris, also seemed to be at a loss for words when he realized the bad optics as he dialed into the hearing – while he was behind the wheel of a car.
Washtenaw County Judge Cedric Simpson was not only dumbfounded by what he saw, he also slapped Harris with more bad news after the incident.
(Video Credit: Law&Crime)
Harris dialed into the May 15 hearing in Ann Arbor as the assistant public defender Natalie Pate introduced herself to the judge.
“Mr Harris, are you driving?” Simpson asked Harris as he joined in.
“Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office,” the defendant replied. “Just give me one second, I’m parking right now.”
The shocked judge dropped his pen, momentarily resting his head in his hand while waiting for Harris to park,
“What are we doing?” he asked.
Harris’s attorney understandably asked the judge for an adjournment for “possibly up to four weeks if the court would allow.”
But Simpson wasn’t going to let the glaring error pass without consequence.
“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 recounted.
“That is correct your honor,” Pate responded as Harris could be heard saying simply, “Um…” as the realization hit.
It was at this moment he finally realized he messed up.
You truly can’t make it up pic.twitter.com/CzGyAh4pcg
— Marc (@gopher_marc) May 29, 2024
“And he was just driving? And he doesn’t have a license?” Simpson asked.
“Those are the charges, yes,” Pate said, as Simpson pressed: “No, I’m looking at his record. He doesn’t have a license. He’s suspended, and he’s just driving.”
The judge looked around the court as if to confirm he wasn’t the only one who saw the issue.
even the judge couldn’t keep a straight face pic.twitter.com/hm2b72em81
— ً (@tylerduran21) May 29, 2024
“I don’t even know why he would do that,” Simpson said. “So, the defendant’s bond is revoked in this matter.”
The judge also instructed the defendant to turn himself in to the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that day. His next court date is reportedly set for June 5.
How is this not parody? It’s real though, had to look it up for myself. His next hearing is on June 5th, should be an interesting one to watch. pic.twitter.com/RpzLmpqCmC
— Expose Them (@ExposeDarkDeeds) May 29, 2024
“Oh my God,” Harris managed to say as the shock set in, throwing his head back in the driver’s seat.
As much as Harris may not have seen the humor in the moment, social media users by the millions have watched the Zoom video clip and shared their amusement online.
Driving without a Licence and simultaneously an active participant in a Court hearing TEAMS meeting
Who says men can’t multi-task?
— Ankush sharma (@Aku_700) May 29, 2024
This is epic levels of stupidity.
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) May 29, 2024
Should of bought a Tesla and claimed it was self driving, rookie mistake..
— Si of the North (@stappinuk) May 30, 2024
A new meme was created on this day
— Drew Walsh (@drewwalsh32) May 29, 2024
Greatest admiration to the public defender for playing it straight even after seeing how sunk the case was.
— Dan (@Kingbingo_) May 29, 2024
This man is the reason behind warning labels.
— Paul Herrin (@pushingback_pod) May 29, 2024
The dead silence then the …..”Hello..??”
— The Artist (@_J_W_E_B) May 30, 2024
That Corey Harris dude gon be catchin jokes for the rest of his life
— DJB (@Brotha_Hagi) May 30, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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