The American Justice System : politicalmemes

[-] PugJesus@lemmy.world 141 points 7 months ago

On May 15, 2024, Harris joined a Zoom call court hearing from his phone while he was behind the wheel. Since June 2023, Michigan's "hands-free" state law makes it "illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic devices while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads."

Presiding Judge J. Cedric Simpson straightforwardly asked the defendant, "Mr. Harris are you driving?" To which Harris replied, "Actually, I am pulling into my doctor's office," adding, "so just give me one second, I'm parking right now."

Nearly a minute later, Harris informs the court that he is stationary.

After looking through the paperwork, which includes Harris' record, Simpson says, "Okay, so maybe I don't understand something, this is for driving while license suspended?"

"That is correct, your honor," the defendant's lawyer, Washtenaw County Assistant Public Defender Natalie Pate confirmed.

"And he was just driving. And he didn't have a license," Simpson said. He appears to smile and hold back a laugh.

Moments later, Simpson shook his head in disbelief, saying, "I don't even know why he would do that. So, defendant's bond is revoked in this matter." He added that Harris must turn himself in to Michigan's Washtenaw County Jail that evening.

C'mon, man, it would've been better to be late by a few minutes than to show yourself driving with a suspended license to the goddamn judge.

[-] atmur@lemmy.world 101 points 7 months ago

Watching his lawyer and the judge trying so hard not to laugh is the funniest goddamn thing.

Also these two:

[-] grue@lemmy.world 65 points 7 months ago

My favorite part is right after the judge says "and he was just driving, and he didn't have a license," when you can see the realization that he just incriminated himself (further) wash over Harris' face. 🫤 😮 😬 "...oh."

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 24 points 7 months ago

Actually, I’m thinking that face is the “what? It’s not a big deal” expression people have when they think they’re entitled and they just found out they’re not.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 13 points 7 months ago

Maybe. Either way, it's comedy gold!

[-] TheBat@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago

Is there a video? Preferably with Benny Hill theme song?

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiB7u8-qRXE

[-] TheBat@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

Lmao the judge dropping pen 🤣

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

My favorite part is the “oh my god”

[-] SuperSaiyanSwag@lemmy.zip 17 points 7 months ago

Maybe the guy just might be way too used to driving everywhere without thinking, almost like a muscle memory at this point.

[-] absentbird@lemm.ee 17 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Apparently his license had been restored in 2022, but due to a clerical error it was still listed as suspended. That's part of the reason for the hearing.

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[-] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 13 points 7 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Supposedly he was driving his wife to get some urgent care. I dunno what the facts are here, but yeah. Not the best look.

Think I heard about it here: https://www.wxyz.com/news/hear-from-the-man-caught-driving-during-virtual-court-hearing-for-suspended-license

[-] Theharpyeagle@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Is there a source for that? I checked a few of the more recent articles and didn't see anything.

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 14 points 7 months ago

https://www.wxyz.com/news/hear-from-the-man-caught-driving-during-virtual-court-hearing-for-suspended-license

7 News Detroit asked Harris what was he thinking when he made his appearance in court via video where he was seen driving.

"What was I thinking? I was thinking about about getting my wife medical help. That's what I was thinking," Harris said. "I wasn't thinking about the fact that I got a suspended license. I don't care about all that."

... Harris told us that he never should have been charged with driving on a suspended license last fall, and he blames the mix-up on Saginaw Friend of the Court.

"They were supposed to have been lifted it two years ago, but they didn't," Harris said.

Secretary of State records show Harris' license was first suspended in 2010 for unpaid child support in Saginaw County.

Then in 2022, court records show that a judge rescinded that suspension, allowing Harris to drive again. But it appears that information never got to the Secretary of State where even as of Thursday afternoon, Harris' license is still listed as suspended — the same records police and the judge were going by.

..."Always double-check behind these workers because they will say that they will do something and they don't do it," Harris said.

[-] Twista713@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago

Wow... thanks for more context! So a state agency error results in the judge and prosecutor not having the correct information, but how does the defense attorney not look that up? Maybe overworked, but I would hope for more... And Harris should've spoken up himself that the suspension was lifted on this date by this agency! He could've also just said- I'm driving legally right now. That would have allowed the lawyers to look into it more.

[-] StaticFalconar@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Where do you get that from?

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[-] Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

No he wasn't.

[-] umbrella@lemmy.ml 12 points 7 months ago

on the other hand how is one supposed to live without being able to drive in the us?

[-] PugJesus@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

It very much is possible, and this coming from someone who walks with a cane.
That doesn't excuse driving with a suspended license, unless you're at the level of "Abolish driving licenses" Libertarian Party style; licenses are a basic safety precaution and suspending one is supposed to reinforce the seriousness of the offense of unsafe and illegal driving.
You can drive in the US without livestreaming it to your judge (shocking, I know).

[+] alekwithak@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

[deleted]

[-] PugJesus@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

Do you live in Michigan where this guy lives

No.

or do you live somewhere with sidewalks and some level of public transit?

Fuck no.

Who asked for your judgement? Do you know why his license was suspended?

No, but the purpose of licensing and suspensions is to ensure safety on the road; "It was okay that he was driving on a suspended license because living in the US without driving is hard" completely ignores the point of licenses to begin with. If you're a proponent of no licensing, then at least you're consistent - if you aren't, then this was still quite clearly a fucking stupid move on this guy's part.

I had mine suspended once because I dared to buy car insurance in a different state than the car was registered. Does that make me an unsafe driver just because I didn’t know you had to register the cars before transferring insurance?

Yes, actually, since insurance is part of safety on the road, considering you're driving a multi-thousand dollar (at minimum) piece of machinery with the speed and weight necessary to crush a human being like a bug if your attention is distracted at the wrong time, even if through no fault of your own. Most states mandate that your insurance, well, cover the car you're driving in order to be allowed on the road.

While true it’s completely irrelevant to the question you’re answering.

Oh, in that case, I suppose the question I answered is also irrelevant to the original comment I fucking made, which was about not livestreaming breaking the law to your court appointment.

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[-] spongebue@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

It's pretty damn hard, no doubt. But that doesn't mean everyone should be able to drive by default and we should just do away with driver's licenses (or whatever you may be suggesting)

Also, it's pretty stupidly easy to get a license here, and easier yet to keep it.

[-] umbrella@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

if i'm suggesting anything it would be public transit.

if some guy is prohibited from driving but has no alternative to go to the doctor, he will just risk it and drive anyway. makong the punishment ineffective and possibly turning it into a snowball for the driver.

[-] jj4211@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

Even if he "had" to cheat and drive, he could've chosen to be like a minute later and call from anywhere except a driver's seat of a moving vehicle.

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[-] Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Live in a 15-min city?

Push for more public transportation?

Millions do it all the time.

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[-] demizerone@lemmy.world 76 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I know people with a single non-violent felony and are destitute. This mother fucker has 34 and has a chance at being president. Dying empire led by bad people is exactly right.

[-] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 13 points 7 months ago

But he can't vote anymore. Oh thank God for that!

[-] Eiim 15 points 6 months ago

Felons in New York can vote as long as they're not incarcerated.

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[-] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 6 months ago

I think a guilty verdict of 34 counts still only means 1 felony conviction. Plus there is still the appeal unfortunately...

[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 59 points 7 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

[removed by mod]

[-] orcrist@lemm.ee 3 points 6 months ago

It's also about the justice system. If you are I commit multiple felonies, will get locked up. If we tried screwing around in court that much, if we were held in contempt multiple times, the same result would occur. But he's rich and famous, at least for now, so he gets away with it, or at least he gets away with it for a lot longer.

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[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 58 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Bruh...

His license was suspended and the hearing was to delay his reporting to jail by 4 weeks...

And he didn't show up to the courthouse like he was supposed to, then face timed in while driving...

He was already sentenced to jail, he just didn't have to report yet.

Like, the court date wasn't just for driving with a suspended license. It was for whatever caused him to already lose his license and get sent to jail.

So the judge ruled against his request for delay and ordered him to report to jail that evening.

[-] xantoxis@lemmy.world 28 points 7 months ago

Yeah to be real, that first guy definitely fucked up bad. I'm not gonna pretend he's some kind of poster child for anti-maga.

I'm still against carceral punishment though.

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Pretty sure the hearing wasn’t about asking for an adjournment, and the public defender tried to end the hearing by asking for an adjournment because her client was a dumbass.

I assume he was there to get a summary ruling on the misdemeanor- or maybe try and convince the judge to let it be a fine or something.

Which the judge ignored, because he ain’t stupid either.

Edit- it was just a misdemeanor, unless he hurt someone while driving. So it would have been a max of 93 days and/or max of 500 bucks. Almost certainly less than that- and at least here, it’s a “pay this standard fine or you can go to jail.” (I’m not in Michigan, mind,)

[-] Princeali311@lemm.ee 40 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yo let this man be. He wasn't driving without a suspended license. The judge was working on false information.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/hear-from-the-man-caught-driving-during-virtual-court-hearing-for-suspended-license

[-] EatATaco@lemm.ee 6 points 6 months ago

Even if we ignore the whole "suspended license" part of it, he still showed up to court breaking MI law by using a cell phone while driving. Thinking he is going to avoid ridicule for this is a pipe dream.

[-] CptOblivius@lemmy.world 17 points 6 months ago

Don't forget he was also found liable for rape.

[-] 11111one11111@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

Jesus fuck the laundry list of shit you could pin him with is endless so why the fuck would you need to make shit up? They literally did not find him liable for rape. He was found liable for sexual abuse. Why fuel the fire of misinformation when it's the fire the person you are speaking out against thrives on.

[-] volvoxvsmarla@lemm.ee 11 points 7 months ago

I hate Trump with a passion but I'll play devil's advocate here.

Not all felonies are equal. And I bet all of you have different feelings about different convictions. For some, bribing a pornstar to keep quiet about an affair just doesn't seem like a big thing, a morally ultra wrong thing, something that would disquality you from running for presidency of a country.

Einstein cheated on his wives and was a huge asshole. That doesn't make his accomplishments as a scientist any less valid. Should we denounce the theory of relativity because he was morally or ethically corrupt?

Let me tell you Trump's story from the eyes of a Trump supporter here: The guy had an affair long time ago and he knew that this getting public would make him look bad despite being a genuine guy with good intentions for his country. So he did what every red blooded American would do, he asked the mistress not to tell anyone. He paid her for that. He had to get that money from somewhere so he had to falsify some books.

I understand how disgusting this is, but for an average Joe this can be very well understandable and morally forgivable. You might disagree (you might also know more details and context than the average Joe) but at the end of the day everyone's moral compass is different. And affair and hush money might just not be that big of a deal in the grant scheme of things. It might not be something that big that it should keep you from voting for a candidate. He didn't murder someone! after all.

And honestly, in some way I agree: Trump did so much bad shit that he should be in prison for, but the hush money thing is just not the Big One I want to see him convicted for.

As others pointed out, convicted felons should be able to run for presidency to avoid political imprisonment of opponents. This is literally what happens in Russia all the time. You want to run for something? Either you filed some paperwork wrong and cannot run as a candidate, or you get thrown into jail because of corruption or extremism or taxes, or you get assassinated. Often one follows the other.

Apart from that, I firmly believe in rehabilitation. Fuck Trump, but I'll be damned if in a couple of years some amazing dude could not be running for president because he was thrown to jail for drugs or stealing popcorn or some other crap when he was 18. Even for major crimes. If you have served your sentence and show remorse you should be able to integrate yourself back into society with somewhat of a clean sheet. We fuck the lives over of ex felons big time and it is such a shame.

[-] NeptuneOrbit@lemmy.world 45 points 7 months ago

I just lost brain cells. It's campaign finance violations, not an affair. Also, the government doesn't just get one shot to convict someone. It's not "the big one" but he's still under threat for other actions he chose to take.

[-] zarp86@sh.itjust.works 41 points 7 months ago

It's campaign finance violations, not an affair.

Thank you.. I blame the media for this. Every article and talking head referred to it as the "hush money case" instead of "campaign finance fraud."

[-] volvoxvsmarla@lemm.ee 8 points 7 months ago

I absolutely agree. Please don't take my comment above as my actual opinion on Trump. My point is exactly this - for a Trump supporter it is easy to see this as the "hush money case" as you call it and just state it's not that big of a deal even when he's convicted. And the media is very much to blame for that.

[-] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 17 points 7 months ago

Yeah, but stealing classified documents to sell to the highest bidder is pretty fucking serious, and the clown judge that he hired did everything in her power to get that trial pushed til after the election when he could hopefully throw it out as commander in chief. The fact that they pulled that shit makes me want NY to throw the book at him.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Einstein made astonishing and real contributions to science. You cannot invalidate his contributions because they’re, well…scientific. Yeah, he did some shitty things, but those things were limited to the scope of his immediate family. Not apologizing for him, just offering this for comparison.

We have to make these adjustments any time we discuss the work of some artist, scientist, or leader we place on a pedestal.

The real test is how much damage they do to others. Infidelity? Well, it sucks, but it’s not uncommon (not dismissing it, just observing the fact). Did a scientist create a wheat variety that withstands pests and drought, feeding millions, yet also create a profitable chemical that has caused widespread cancer or environmental destruction? Maybe a popular, famous and groundbreaking artist was a real piece of shit and beat his wife and kids, say maybe putting one of the kids in a wheelchair? Maybe a world leader that’s done a great number of amazing things but still dropped bombs on civilians?

Now what? Is this the price of greatness? How much do you accept or turn a blind eye to? How much real harm did they do?

As far as felonies go, there’s obviously different levels, and that’s up to the law, and FBFW the judge…as we’ve seen affluenza and being a rich POS lets you skip out on a lot of punishment thanks to judge’s biases. Our “feels” shouldn’t be what counts.

You say you “hate trump with a passion”, but:

and he knew that this getting public would make him look bad despite being a genuine guy with good intentions for his country.

Say what?

As far as “moral compasses” go, I think it’s been pretty well established that the pro-trump morality is willfully ignorant and shored up with personal prejudices and hatreds. You have to deliberately choose not to believe in many things to support trump, and that means ignoring laws, the rights for and respect of your fellow humans, science, and many other things. Believing in a Flat Earth has the same validity as supporting trump.

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[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago

The guy had an affair long time ago

My man has been having affairs almost continuously since his first marriage.

[-] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Some say he has the best affairs I heard some people, many people, the best, people, say it.

[-] spujb@lemmy.cafe 10 points 7 months ago

to be fair plenty of liberals and other non-abolitionist folk probably also had the top reaction 🙃

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