Image: Loren Elliot/Reuters
Forget the battle to find the mute button and shouting “can you hear me?”, one US lawyer’s Zoom nightmare came in the form of a filter.
Texas lawyer Rod Ponton looked anything but professional during a recent serious court debate held online ,when he accidentally left a kitten filter on during a video conference call with a judge and was unable to change it.
In a video of the incident shared online, judge Roy Ferguson can be heard telling Ponton: “I believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings. You might want to…”
Panicking, Ponton asked: “Can you hear me, judge? I don’t know how to remove it. I’ve got my assistant here. She’s trying to but I’m prepared to go forward with it. I’m here live. I’m not a cat.”
The judge’s response?
“I can see that.”
“I’m here live, I’m not a cat,” says lawyer after Zoom filter mishap
“I can see that,” responds judge pic.twitter.com/HclKlAUwbM
— Lawrence Hurley (@lawrencehurley) February 9, 2021
The judge later took to social media to share tips about virtual meetings.
“If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom video options to be sure filters are off.”
“These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession’s dedication to ensuring the justice system continues to function in these tough times. Everyone involved handled it with dignity, and the filtered lawyer showed incredible grace. True professionalism all around.”
Meanwhile, the streets were a mess in reaction to the moemish:
IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. This kitten just made a formal announcement on a case in the 394th (sound on). #lawtwitter #OhNo @zoom_ushttps://t.co/I0zaj0wu6K
— Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021
I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard 🤣. That cat like ‘Oh F’… pic.twitter.com/3yUENbiy3f
— Desirée (@DesireeMoffitt) February 9, 2021
I am a courtroom sketch artist, and I am laughing so hard imagining trying to draw this.
All involved did a great job of keeping it together … which just makes it funnier. Watch the council top right do a great job of staying serious.— Charles Vincent (@CharlesFVincent) February 9, 2021
by Kyle Zeeman
