Detroit-Area Judge Berates Woman For Driving During Zoom Court Hearing

WOODHAVEN, MI — A Detroit-area judge berated a defendant earlier this week when she called into a Zoom conference while driving a car.

Judge Michael K. McNally oversaw the hearing in the 33rd District Court in Woodhaven when the woman called into the court.

"I was sitting in some room or something, and then I didn't know I was just staring at myself," the woman said. "I'm sorry."

She then switched the camera, which showed her sitting on the left side of the vehicle, presumably driving.

"Am I crazy, or does it not look like you are driving that car?" McNally said.

McNally went on and told the woman she cannot be driving while attending court.

The woman told the judge she was a passenger and not the driver.

"I'm sorry. I have an emergency. I'm going out of town for a family member, but I will have my driver pull over. Hang on," she said.

McNally responded by asking which side of the car she was sitting on. The woman said the "left-hand side," while looking through the windshield and not directly at the phone screen.

"How would you be on the left-hand side if you're a passenger in the front seat? Am I missing something?" McNally asked.

McNally accused the woman of lying to him and asked to see the driver, to which the woman responded by saying, "Hang on one second. ... I have to ask their permission."

The car then stopped and the woman exited the vehicle at what appears to be a gas station. No one else was shown on the camera.

"You think I'm that stupid?" McNally said. "I'm going to go ahead and enter a default judgment. ... You lied to me."

McNally then placed the default judgment, and said the woman was "not available at the time and then was driving a car and telling the court she was not."

McNally then ended the hearing.

(Hearing starts around 49 minutes)