A judge in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was stunned when Corey Harris, with a suspended license, joined a court Zoom call while driving. The judge revoked Harris's bond and ordered him to surrender to jail, highlighting the challenges of virtual court proceedings and the importance of adhering to legal responsibilities.
A district judge in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was left astonished when a man with a suspended driver’s license joined a court Zoom call while driving. The unexpected turn of events unfolded during a routine hearing presided over by Judge Cedric Simpson. The defendant, Corey Harris, appeared on the call from the driver’s seat of his car, sparking immediate concern from the judge.
Court footage captured Judge Simpson’s incredulous reaction. "Mr. Harris, are you driving?" Simpson asked, his disbelief evident. Harris attempted to downplay the situation by replying, "Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office."
Despite Harris’s explanation, the scenario quickly grew more complex. A public defender representing Harris requested an adjournment for "possibly up to four weeks if the court would allow." Judge Simpson, still processing the scene, responded with confusion and frustration, "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 public defender confirmed the judge’s understanding, acknowledging that Harris was indeed driving despite his suspended license. This revelation prompted Judge Simpson to revoke Harris’s bond, ordering him to surrender to the local county jail by that evening. The judge expressed his bewilderment, stating, "I don’t even know why he would do that."
