The driver’s license suspension for the driver in the viral court video was lifted years ago

A Michigan man who was ridiculed for driving during a virtual court hearing actually had his license reinstated years ago.

Last month, a video of Corey Harris went viral when a judge watched him drive via Zoom during a May 15 court hearing on a charge of driving without a license.

Judge Cedric Simpson seemed stunned by Harris’ actions and immediately revoked his bail, whereupon Harris turned himself in.

However, a report by 7 News Detroit revealed that the order suspending his license was lifted back in January 2022 and was never forwarded to state authorities by the Saginaw County Friend of the Court, a local government agency. The report noted that it took “less than five minutes” to search Saginaw County court records to find that the order suspending Harris’ license had been lifted nearly 2 1/2 years ago.

Harris appeared in court remotely to contest the misdemeanor charge that originated in a traffic stop in Pittsfield Township, south of Ann Arbor, in October 2023 – more than a year and a half after the order suspending his driver’s license was lifted.

According to 7 News Detroit, the Michigan Secretary of State’s office said they never received a permit from the Saginaw County Friend of the Court in 2022, which is why Harris’ license was never reinstated.

The Secretary of State’s office told the news agency that the court reinstated Harris’ license after he paid several fees. As 7 News Detroit noted, it’s unclear why Harris’ case wasn’t resolved months ago by his public defender or the Pittsfield Township District Attorney’s Office.

During the 2023 stop that led to the charges, Harris said he was driving his wife to the doctor because she needed medical attention.

In 2010, his driving license was initially revoked in connection with a child support case.