CIUDAD REAL CASTILLA LA-MANCHA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 11: The steering wheel of one of the vehicles exhibited at Fecirauto, the largest and most important car show in the province, at the Ciudad Real Trade Fair Pavilion, on 11 November, 2021 in Ciudad Real, Castilla La-Mancha, Spain. The Ciudad Real Pavilion hosts from Thursday to Sunday 14 November, a new edition of the Second-hand Car Fair (FecirAuto), which recovers its face-to-face character after suspending its previous edition due to the pandemic. The event is organized by the Business Federation of Ciudad Real (Fecir) and the Provincial Association of Automotive Entrepreneurs (APEA) and has 20 exhibitors and more than 200 used vehicles. (Photo By Patricia Galiana/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Corey Harris has alleged that a clerical error regarding his license turned him into a viral court meme. For context, Harris is the Michigan man a judge believed was driving with a suspended license while appearing in virtual court.
Now, the judge is clearing the air with the case facts, saying Harris has never been a licensed driver. EVER.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect new information from overseeing Michigan Judge Cedric Simpson. Keep reading to see the latest updates and original story.
Just days ago, 7 News Detroit (WXYZ) reported that Judge James T. Borchard ordered the rescindment of Harris’ license suspension on January 7, 2022.
Corey Harris’ license suspension was reportedly tied to a child support case with the Saginaw County Friend of the Court. The rescindment would’ve allowed Harris to drive again.
However, the Friend of the Court agency allegedly never sent the judge’s order to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, which handles such matters. Therefore, on paper, the license suspension has been active ever since.
Note that on Friday (May 31), the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office reportedly confirmed that they had never received the clearance.
Corey told the Detroit outlet he’s been dealing with the fallout of becoming a public joke!
“With the type of ties that I have with the church and the community, it’s very embarrassing,” Harris told 7 News Detroit (WXYZ).
Now, Judge Cedric Simpson has clarified that the clerical error narrative isn’t entirely true. He shared that Harris has never been a licensed driver.
“…With any reference to your client having had a license on that day, in some indication or misunderstanding as to whether or not he had a license…let me make it very clear…he has never had a license. Ever. And [he’s] never had a license in the other 49 states or commonwealths that make up this country. He’s never had a license.”
Judge Simpson explained that the suspension was for the driving privilege rather than the non-existent license. The court official didn’t end his fact-checking there! He went HAM with the facts of the case, explaining his evidence.
“The way I know that he’s never had a license is because, on May 3, 1999, he was 19 at the time, he applied for his first Michigan ID. He had religiously, every year, gotten a new ID. And so he knows that he doesn’t have a license,” Simpson said.
Watch the judge shut down the clerical error story below.
As previously reported, Corey appeared before Judge Cedric Simpson last week. After noting that Harris was driving with suspended privileges, the judge revoked Corey’s bond and ordered him to turn himself in to Washington County Jail. The judge also warned Harris that “failure to turn himself in will result in a bench warrant with no bond.”
For additional context, Corey Harris has shared that he was only behind the wheel to transport his wife to the doctor. She reportedly had a worsening medical condition. But, as mentioned above, he was doing so without obtaining a license.
See the viral video of Harris’ court session last week below.
The Michigan man was in court to address a misdemeanor charge from a traffic stop in October 2023 in Pittsfield Township.
Following this new development in the viral court case, Corey Harris’ attorney said his client is working to secure his first driver’s license. He has already reportedly paid the reinstatement fee.
Meanwhile, after reports of the clerical error, Corey Harris’ public defender did not comment on the alleged mishap. A county spokesperson speaking for the public defender told the outlet they do not comment on ongoing court cases.
7 News Detroit (WXYZ) insisted that the rescindment was still available in Saginaw County court records. The Saginaw County Friend of the Court had reportedly swerved the outlet’s request for comment.
