Driver viral for participating in virtual court hearing while driving reportedly cleared of charges. A man who went viral for driving during a virtual court hearing for his suspended license has reportedly been vindicated. Despite the unusual circumstances, the court has cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Corey Harris, a 44-year-old Michigan man, was left stunned and embarrassed after a video clip of him driving during a virtual court hearing for a suspended driver’s license went viral. Harris was attending the hearing for an October traffic stop in Pittsfield Township, Michigan, when Judge Cedric Simpson noticed him driving and revoked his bail.
The video clip, which quickly spread on the internet, shows Harris driving while participating in the virtual hearing. Judge Simpson appears to be in disbelief, asking Harris, “Mr. Harris, are you driving?” Harris replies, “Yes, I’m driving.” Simpson then orders Harris’ bail revoked and instructs him to surrender to authorities at the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that day.
Harris was visibly shocked by the judge’s decision, and his reaction was captured on camera. He later expressed his frustration and embarrassment over the incident, telling WXYZ-TV, “With the type of ties that I have with the church and the community, it’s very embarrassing.”
“Mr. Harris, are you driving?” Simpson asked, to which Harris replied that he was behind the wheel.
However, it was later revealed that Harris was a victim of a clerical error. His driver’s license had been suspended in 2010 for unpaid child support, but a judge had rescinded the suspension in January 2022. The Michigan Secretary of State’s Office never received clearance from the Saginaw Friend of the Court, making the lifting of the suspension ineffective.
Harris told WXYZ-TV that he was unaware of the clerical error and believed his license had been reinstated. He was driving to a doctor’s appointment at the time of the hearing and didn’t realize he was still technically driving on a suspended license.
The incident highlights the importance of double-checking and communication in the legal system. Harris’ public defender, Khyla Craine, deputy legal director for the Michigan secretary of state, explained that the process to get a driver’s license reinstated can be complicated. “Sometimes it is simple as we at the secretary of state’s office did not get a clearance from the court that everything was done, but something happened in the wires, and we needed to talk to the court to get the clearance and clean it up for the resident,” Craine said.
Harris spent two days in jail following the hearing after turning himself in. He expressed his frustration over the incident, saying, “Always double-check behind these workers because they will say that they will do something, and they don’t do it.”
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of attention to detail in the legal system. Harris’ case was a simple clerical error, but it had significant consequences for him. The incident also highlights the need for communication and double-checking in the legal system to avoid such errors.
In conclusion, Corey Harris’ case is a prime example of how a clerical error can have significant consequences. Harris was unaware of the error and believed his license had been reinstated. The incident highlights the importance of attention to detail and communication in the legal system. It also serves as a reminder to always double-check and verify information to avoid such errors.
