A Texas lawyer’s technical snafu during a court hearing conducted on Zoom has led to a lot of catty comments.
That’s because a cat filter covered attorney Rod Ponton’s face during the proceedings, leading to an amusing exchange with Judge Roy B. Ferguson.
“Mr. Ponton, I believe you have a filter turned on in your video settings,†Ferguson perceptively noted.
 “Can you hear me, judge?†Ponton replied.
“I can hear you. I think it’s a filter,†the judge responded.
Ponton agreed and explained the situation: “I don’t know how to remove it. I’ve got my assistant here and she’s trying to remove it but, uh … I’m prepared to go forward with it.â€
He then added, “I’m here live. I’m not a cat.â€
Ponton later told Vice the mistake happened while using his secretary’s computer, which had the filter on.
“I took it off and replaced it with my face,†Ponton explained. “It was a case involving a man trying to exit the United States with contraband and contraband cash. All it was was a mistake. It was taken off and we had the hearing as normal.â€
Normal is a relative term, considering a clip of the exchange is going viral on social media.
Ferguson even tweeted out the video and turned it into a teachable moment.
Although the filter foul-up may have temporarily embarrassed Ponton, the end result seems to have united America even on the first day of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial.
As a result, Ponton may have earned a new nickname.
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