‘It’s very embarrassing’: Insane update on viral court video

A US judge was visibly stunned in May after a man charged with driving with a suspended licence attended his virtual court hearing while behind the wheel.

The incident occurred on May 15 in Washtenaw County Court in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before Judge Cedric Simpson.

According to local media reports, Corey Harris, 44, who was charged with driving with a suspended licence in October 2023, appeared at his virtual court hearing from the driver’s seat of his car.

Harris’s bond was revoked after a hilarious interaction, and he was ordered to surrender to the county jail by 6pm that evening.

In the days after the hearing, court footage went viral, and his low-level driving offence made international headlines.

However, it can now be revealed that Harris may have thought his license suspension was indeed lifted at the time.

Local news broadcaster WXYZ reports that Harris was charged with driving while his license was suspended, but a judge ordered the suspension to be lifted in January 2022.

The suspension was related to a child support case with Saginaw County Friend of the Court.

However, the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office never received the news that Harris’s suspension would be lifted.

Reporter Kimberly Craig said: “Trying to get to the bottom of what happened with Mr Harris’ drivers license that is still suspended for child support has been incredibly frustrating.”

“For two days now, I’ve been trying to ask anyone at Saginaw County Friend of the Court what could have gone wrong? and still no answer,” she added.

As for why he drove that day, Harris revealed to US media, “What was I thinking? I was thinking about getting my wife medical help.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” he continued.

“They were supposed to have been lifted it two years ago, but they didn’t. … It’s very embarrassing, and with the type of ties that I have with the church and the community, it’s very embarrassing.”

‘Are you driving!?’

Court footage shows Judge Simpson’s stunned reaction when he realised what was unfolding on Harris’ screen.

“Mr Harris, are you driving!?” the judge asked incredulously.

Harris responded, “Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office.”

During the hearing, Harris’s public defender requested an adjournment for “possibly up to four weeks if the court would allow.”

Judge Simpson, clearly baffled, remarked, “OK, 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,” he continued.

The public defender confirmed, “That is correct, your honour.”

In response, Judge Simpson smiled bemusedly before revoking Harris’s bond and ordering him to surrender to the local county jail by 6pm that evening.

“I don’t even know why he would do that,” the judge said, reflecting on Harris’s surprising decision to drive to the hearing.

Upon hearing the judge’s order, Harris threw his head back, sighing, “Oh my god,” before the session concluded.