Clerical error leads to license error in court video
Corey Harris is speaking out after an alleged clerical error regarding his license turned him into a viral courthouse meme. For context, Harris is the Michigan man the judge believes was driving with a suspended license during a virtual court appearance.
RELATED: Now, sir! Michigan man with suspended license confuses Judge after participating in court video call while driving (VIDEO)
Here’s what happened with Corey Harris’ license suspension
It turned out that the court lifted the license suspension in 2022. However, the paperwork was never forwarded to the agency responsible for reinstatement. Now, Corey Harris is facing the consequences of being a public joke!
“Given the relationship I have with the church and the community, it’s embarrassing,” Harris told 7 News Detroit (WXYZ).
As mentioned, he also revealed that the suspension of his license was “It should have been lifted two years ago, but they didn’t.”
So here’s what happened, according to 7 News Detroit (WXYZ).
Corey Harris’ license suspension is believed to be related to a child support case with the Saginaw County Friend of the Court. But on January 7, 2022, Judge James T. Borchard ordered the license suspension rescinded, which would allow Harris to drive again.
However, the Friend of the Court reportedly never sent the judge’s order to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, which handles such matters. So, on paper, the license suspension has been in effect since then. Note that on Friday (May 31), the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that it never received the permit.
That’s why his record noted a license suspension when Corey appeared before Judge Cedric Simpson last week. The clerical error led Judge Simpson to believe that Harris had disregarded the law and suspended his license.
As a result, Judge Simpson revoked Corey’s bond and ordered him to turn himself in to the Washington County Jail. The judge also warned Harris that “Failure to surrender will result in a no-bail arrest warrant.”
For more context, Corey Harris shared that he only got behind the wheel to take his wife to a doctor’s appointment. It is known that her medical condition is getting worse.
Watch the viral video of Harris’ court appearance last week below.
A Michigan district judge was shocked after a man with a suspended driver’s license joined his court Zoom call *while driving a car*
“Mr. Harris, are you driving?”https://t.co/AdDfO5MVskpic.twitter.com/mh3eZXX9wb
– philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 29, 2024
What happens next?
Corey Harris’s public defender has not commented on this incident, as they also omitted to rescind this suspension. Meanwhile, the revocation remains on Saginaw County court records. However, a district spokesperson on behalf of the public defender told 7 News Detroit (WXYZ) that they do not comment on ongoing trials.
The Saginaw County Friend of the Court reportedly did not respond to 7 News Detroit’s (WXYZ) request for comment on the matter.
The entire reason Corey Harris was in court to begin with was to resolve a misdemeanor traffic stop charge in October 2023 in Pittsfield Township. During that traffic stop, his driver’s license – on paper – remained suspended.
It’s unclear what will happen regarding the consequences laid down last week by Judge Cedric Simpson for the October 2023 traffic stop.
RELATED: Judge rules YouTube, Meta and Reddit will face lawsuits for alleged role in radicalizing Buffalo supermarket shooter
