Judge Flabbergasted When MI Man With Suspended License Joins Court Zoom ... While Driving

ANN ARBOR, MI — A Washtenaw County judge was left flabbergasted after a man who was charged with driving without a valid license joined a court appearance via Zoom … while driving.

The incident occurred on May 15, according to a live feed of the proceeding posted on YouTube.

The recording shows defendant Corey Harris appear on the Zoom call, clearly driving.

“Mr. Harris, are you driving?” asked Judge J. Cedric Simpson.

“Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office,” Harris replied. “So, um, just give me one second. I’m parking right now.”

Several seconds passed and the judge tossed down his pen in apparent exasperation as those in the courtroom waited for Harris to get situated. Assistant Public Defender Natalie Pate then requested an up to four-week adjournment.

“I’m looking at his record,” the judge said. “He doesn’t have a license. He’s suspended and he’s just driving.”

A long silence followed. At one point Harris said, “Hello?” — seemingly checking to confirm the audio was working on his end of the Zoom call.

“I don’t even know why he would do that,” said the judge. “So, defendant’s bond is revoked in this matter.”

Harris was ordered to turn himself in to county jail by 6 p.m. that day.

As the gravity of the situation appeared to sink in, Harris rolled his head back and whispered, “Oh my God.”

The 44-year-old was charged with driving with a suspended, revoked or denied license after an Oct. 7 incident in Pittsfield, according to court records. He is set to make a pretrial appearance before Simpson on June 5, court records said.