The saga involving the Michigan man who went viral for attending court via Zoom continued Wednesday with a new twist: The judge revealed that he’s never had a legal license in his entire life anywhere in the United States.
Corey Harris appeared in court in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, a week after his May 15 court hearing went viral. Harris joined that May 15 hearing regarding his suspended license via Zoom while driving. Judge Cedric Simpson was unsurprisingly dumbfounded. Simpson ordered Harris to turn himself in later that day.
In the following days, Harris claimed in an interview with a local TV station that he was being made an example of for an honest mistake. However, during Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Simpson clarified that Harris had never had a legal license. He explained that while Harris had his driving privileges suspended, he never possessed a valid driver’s license.
“He has never had a license. Ever. And has never had a license in any of the other 49 states or commonwealths that make up this country,” Simpson said around the 3-minute mark.
“When they suspended his license…they don’t suspend the license, they suspend the privilege to drive in the state. Hence, if he had a Kentucky license, he would have been allowed to drive anywhere that Kentucky allowed him to drive; he just couldn’t drive in Michigan because his privileges have been restricted,” Simpson said.
The judge emphasized that there were no clerical errors and that the only failure was Harris not taking steps to regain his driving privileges. Harris had claimed he couldn’t address his license due to being housebound after an accident, but Simpson countered this, noting that Harris had visited the Secretary of State’s office to renew his Michigan ID.
Defense Attorney Dionne E. Webster-Cox stated they were focused on correcting Harris’ record and securing his license. She was surprised to learn Harris had never had a license.
Harris, who had a warrant for driving with a suspended license, was taken into police custody but was given a nominal bond for release. His next court date is August 7, giving him time to secure a license.
