Detroit Judge Michael McNally scolded a woman for approaching the courthouse from a car, asking if she was driving
A Detroit judge has blasted a woman who took online court in a speeding car case – then appeared to catch her in a lie when she asked if she was actually the driver.
Kimberly Carroll showed up late for her court date Monday in Woodhaven, where she is accused by LVNV Funding LLC – a consumer debt buyer – of owing $1,788.08 as the hearing got off to a rough start, Fox 2 Detroit reported.
Judge Michael McNally chose to proceed without Carroll being present and entered a default judgment ordering him to pay the debt, as well as filing and service fees, before he can join the call.
Moments later, the court clerk said an unknown iPhone was trying to log into a Zoom session.
After being brought in and told to turn on his camera, Carroll was seen sitting in the car with a seat belt on his chest, according to a video obtained by the store.
“I was sitting in another room or something, and I didn’t know I was just watching myself,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
“You can’t drive, ma’am,” McNally replied. “What are you doing?”
“I’m not driving. I’m a passenger,” Carroll replied.
McNally, the longest-serving judge on the Michigan District Court, said he would not hear cases involving “people driving or sitting in cars,” prompting him to withdraw.
“I’m sorry, I have an emergency. I’m going out of town to look for a family member, but I’m going to ask my driver to stop,” she said. “I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to be in the car.”
But McNally was not convinced and began to press him if he was really the driver.
“Am I crazy, or doesn’t it look like you’re driving that car?” he asked.
Carroll insisted he wasn’t, but the judge kept investigating.
“Which side of the car are you in?” McNally asked, as he stumbled over his answer that he was on the wrong side.
“How can you be on the left when you’re the front seat passenger? Am I missing something?”
“Left hand … right hand, I’m sorry,” Carroll replied.
“Yes, the belt comes off the driver’s side. Now you’re lying to me, aren’t you?” he said.
When he denied it, the judge told him to show the driver.
“Wait a minute!” Carroll said, saying he needed permission to record the driver, before suddenly exiting the car.
“No, you weren’t on the passenger side, do you think I’m that stupid? McNally came up.
He ended the trial by again deciding not to pay.
He said: “You lied to me.”
McNally then instructed his clerk to note that Carroll “was not available at that time and drove the car to inform the court that he was not there.”
As the hearing wrapped up, Carroll had one last comment after climbing back to the “passenger side.”
“I came in at 1:30, sir,” he said, prompting the judge to call him back.
“He’s got an attitude, I’ll tell you that,” McNally replied, before wishing him luck and ending the proceedings.
