Current:Home > FinanceMichigan man driving during viral Zoom court hearing had license suspension lifted in 2022 -Quantum Capital Pro
Michigan man driving during viral Zoom court hearing had license suspension lifted in 2022
View
Date:2025-04-15 03:41:19
A Michigan man who went viral after a judge noticed him driving while he attended a virtual Zoom court hearing with a "suspended license" is being vindicated by an apparent clerical error.
Corey Harris, 44, attended the virtual hearing May 15 for charges related to an October traffic stop in Pittsfield, Township, Michigan. A clip from the hearing spread like wildfire across the internet last week, with many in disbelief that Harris would drive with a suspended license right in front of Judge Cedric Simpson.
After noticing what Harris was doing, Simpson revoked his bond and ordered him to turn himself in at the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that day. What Simpson and no one in the courtroom apparently knew was that another judge had rescinded Harris' license suspension in January 2022, according to Saginaw County court records obtained by USA TODAY on Monday.
Here's what we know.
Why didn't court know Harris' license had been reinstated?
Harris' license had been suspended during a now-settled child support case with Saginaw County Friend of the Court before it was ordered reinstated, court records show.
The reason Simpson and no one in the courtroom knew about the reinstatement is because the Michigan Secretary of State's office never received a clearance from the Saginaw County Friend of the Court, reported WXYZ-TV, which was the first outlet to track down the clerical error in court records.
Without clearance, the lift on Harris' license never officially went into effect, according to the Detroit-based TV station.
USA TODAY contacted the Michigan Secretary of State's office and Simpson's chambers but did not receive a response. The Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office, which represents Harris in the ongoing case, was closed when USA TODAY called.
'I don't even know why he would do that'
Simpson's ruling came as Harris was driving his wife to the doctor due to a worsening medical condition, WXYZ-TV reported.
"I don't even know why he would do that," Simpson can be heard saying about Harris in the now-viral video clip.
When Harris heard Simpson order him to jail, his mouth fell open.
WXYZ-TV interviewed Harris, asking him what was going through his mind during the now-viral hearing.
"What was I thinking? I was thinking about getting my wife medical help. That's what I was thinking," Harris told the TV station. "I wasn't thinking about the fact that I got a suspended license. I don't care about all that."
'It's very embarrassing'
Harris spent two days in jail after the hearing, abiding by Simpson's order and turning himself in. Although Harris did the time, he told WXYZ-TV that the license suspension was "supposed to have been lifted two years ago, but they didn't."
"It's very embarrassing," Harris said about the whole situation.
Khyla Craine, deputy legal director for the Michigan Secretary of State, told the station 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.
veryGood! (496)
Related
- Average rate on 30
- Leo Shoppable Horoscope: 11 Birthday Gifts To Help the Lioness Roar
- Israel approves divisive judicial overhaul, weakening court's power amid protests
- An Ohio College Town Wants to Lead on Fighting Climate Change. It Also Has a 1940s-Era, Diesel-Burning Power Plant
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- How Selena Gomez Became the Mental Health Champion We All Needed
- James Middleton's Comments About His Relationship With Sister Kate Middleton Are Royally Relatable
- Inside Indiana’s ‘Advanced’ Plastics Recycling Plant: Dangerous Vapors, Oil Spills and Life-Threatening Fires
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Kendall Jenner Is Not Well After Serving Up Drinks With Mom Kris Jenner in Hilariously Boozy Video
Ranking
- Small twin
- Here's What Kourtney Kardashian Has Been Eating and Drinking During Her Pregnancy
- Sister Wives' Christine Brown Shares Engagement Photos With Her True Love David Woolley
- The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 Has the Best Deals on Footwear from UGG, Birkenstock, Adidas & More
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Emily Ratajkowski Debuts Fiery Red Hair Transformation
- Camila Cabello’s NSFW Vacation Photos Will Have You Saying My Oh My
- Tupac Shakur's Unsolved Murder: Police Share New Development 26 Years After Rapper's Death
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Maryland Urged to Cut Emissions By Swiftly Adopting Rules Electrifying Cars and Trucks
Camila Cabello’s NSFW Vacation Photos Will Have You Saying My Oh My
Why LL COOL J Says Miranda Lambert Should Get Over the Concert Selfie Issue
Small twin
In the Everglades, a Clash Portrayed as ‘Science vs. Politics’ Pits a Leading Scientist Against His Former Employer
New Federal Report on Research Into Sun-Dimming Technologies Delivers More Questions Than Answers
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023: The Best Deals on Activewear from Alo, Adidas, Zella, & FP Movement