A hearing in the USA causes a sensation: The lawyer appears in front of the virtual court as a cute white chick – and doesn’t know what to do. Apparently his secretary had switched on a filter beforehand.
A US federal court case that was supposed to be held by zoom has been delayed due to a video glitch: Attorney Rod Ponton appeared in the virtual court in Texas with the kitten filter switched on.
The video was published by the court on a YouTube channel and was circulating on social networks a short time later. It shows the curious scene: the lawyer’s mouth moves, his eyes twitch back and forth. On the screen, however, you can see a cat, not him.
“Mr. Ponton, I believe you have activated a filter in your video settings,” Judge Roy Ferguson is heard saying. “Judge, can you hear me?” The lawyer asks. “I can hear you,” replies Ferguson. “I think it’s a filter.” The lawyer tries to explain the glitch: “It’s him and I don’t know how to remove it,” said Ponton. “I have my assistant here and she’s trying to remove it, but uh … I’m ready to move on. I’m live here. I’m not a cat.”
The US magazine “Motherboard” later questioned Ponton over the phone. “Oh, that was just a mistake by my secretary,” the lawyer is quoted as saying. “I used her computer and for some reason she had that filter on. It turned the filter off and the negotiation, which was a smuggling case, went on as usual.
Judge Ferguson wrote on Twitter after the hearing ended, “IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child has used your computer, before joining a virtual hearing, check the zoom video options to make sure the filters are off. This kitten has just made a formal announcement about a case in the 394th (tone on). “
“These funny moments are a by-product of the legal profession’s dedication to making sure the judicial system continues to function through these troubled times,” Ferguson tweeted. Everyone involved dealt with the incident with dignity and the filtered lawyer retained incredible grace. “True professionalism!”
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