ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The story about a Washtenaw County man who went viral in May for joining a video court hearing for a suspended license case while driving took another turn when he appeared in court in person this week.
A three-minute segment of a Washtenaw County courtroom livestream from May 15 was widely spread after Corey Harris called into his suspended license hearing while driving. Harris joined the hearing from his driver’s seat, holding his cell phone and actively driving, violating Michigan’s hands-free driving law. He was charged after reportedly driving with a suspended license in Pittsfield Township.
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The incident and Judge Cedric Simpson’s response made headlines nationwide and Harris quickly became a meme online.
When Harris joined the Zoom hearing, Simpson immediately asked him if he was driving.
“I’m pulling into my doctor’s office,” Harris replied. “Give me a second.”
It took about a minute before the vehicle was parked and became stationary.
After looking at the documents in front of him, Judge Simpson’s tone became more serious.
“Maybe I don’t understand something, this is for driving while license suspended?” he asked.
“That is correct, your honor,” replied the public defender.’ attorney, Natalie Pate.
“And he was just driving. And he didn’t have a license,” Simpson said.
Harris, still sitting in the driver’s seat with his seatbelt fastened became visibly flustered as Simpson pointed out he didn’t have a license at the time.
“Those are the charges, your honor, yes,” Pate replies.
“No. I’m looking at his record. He doesn’t have a license,” Simpson said. “He’s suspended and he was just driving.”
“That is correct, your honor.”
The courtroom became silent for several seconds before Simpson issued his ruling.
“I don’t even know why he would do that. Defendant’s bond is revoked in this matter,” Simpson said. “The defendant must turn himself into the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. Failure to turn himself in will result in a bench warrant with no bond.”
Harris spent the next two days at the Washtenaw County Jail.
Back-to-back plot twists
Shortly after the video went viral, USA Today reported it was a misunderstanding and that Harris’ license was supposed to be reinstated in January 2022 but wasn’t due to a clerical error. Harris allegedly had his license suspension rescinded after the case was settled.
During a follow-up hearing on Wednesday, June 5, Simpson said the license suspension had never been lifted and refuted reports that Harris was a victim of government incompetence. Simpson said Harris’ license couldn’t have been reinstated because he never had a driver’s license to begin with.
“He has never had a Michigan license. Ever. Never had a license in the other states and commonwealths,” Simpson said. “They don’t suspend the license, they suspend the privilege to drive in this state.”
Harris told the judge he couldn’t get to a Secretary of State branch to take care of his license suspension due to an injury from a collision. Simpson rejected this claim and said there was a record of Harris going to a Secretary of State office to get a new Michigan ID in December.
In Michigan, the Secretary of State can’t issue an ID to someone with a license, unless it’s suspended, revoked or restricted.
Additionally, Simpson said that there was a bench warrant out for Harris’ arrest in connection with a 2015 incident where he reportedly drove without a valid license in Allen Park. He was sent back to jail.
Harris’ new attorney, Dionne Webster-Cox, said her focus is to get the court cases cleared and to get Harris eligible to legally drive.
