US Lawyer Accidentally Turns On ‘Cat Filter’ During Court Hearing Via Zoom

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When a judge in the US opened up virtual proceedings of the 394th Judicial District Court in Texas on Zoom this week, he was not expecting to see two lawyers and a kitten.

A live stream of a virtual court proceeding in Texas took an ‘ameowzing’ [amusing] turn when a lawyer appeared on screen as a computer-filter-generated cat.

Source: Twitter

The humdrum civil forfeiture hearing took a hilarious turn when Presidio County Attorney Rod Ponton arrived in Zoom court in the form of a fluffy white and brown kitten. For about 30 somewhat awkward, but mostly entertaining seconds, Ponton struggled to remove the filter.

With other lawyers on screen wryly smiling, 394th Judicial District Court Judge Roy Ferguson tried to walk Ponton through keystrokes. Ponton explained that his assistant was trying to fix the settings. However, he said was ready to proceed even in his cat form.

“I’m prepared to go forward with it. I’m here live, I’m not a cat,” Ponton said. Judge Ferguson had a laugh over the kitten court catastrophe and praised all lawyers involved.

As the video went viral on social media, Judge Ferguson wrote in a tweet, “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.”

The 69-year-old Ponton said he was forced to use his secretary’s computer because the office was in the midst of a move. LOL!

Watch the hilarious video of the court hearing

“If I could make everyone laugh at my expense I’m happy to do that,” Ponton told NBC News hours after the hearing. “It is an example of what can happen in our computer connected world.”

Judge Ferguson said the lawyers were like millions of other Americans, trying to make the best of unconventional work settings caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession’s dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times,” Ferguson tweeted.

He also asked that the footage not be used to “mock the lawyers, but instead to exemplify the legal community’s dedication to the cause of justice”.

Well, this tale of cat fun is not the only video mishap to happen during the pandemic.

Remember when the K-P government ‘accidentally’ went live on Facebook with a cat filter? It was hilarious! A reporter in North Carolina for CNN affiliate WLOS broadcasted live on his station’s Facebook page when a series of Facebook filters popped up.

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