LAWYER WHO REALLY IS THE COOLEST CAT
LAWYER GOES VIRAL AFTER KITTEN’S HEAD REPLACES HIM IN ZOOM COURT CASE
A TEXAS lawyer became an internet sensation after he appeared as a cat in a virtual court case – and said he’s glad it’s given people a good laugh.
Rod Ponton was taking part in the case of a man accused of smuggling cash out of the US when Brewster County Judge Roy B Ferguson opened proceedings.
‘Everybody’s face popped up except mine,’ Mr Ponton said. ‘Mine was a cat and I thought. “Oh”.’
The grey kitten blinked when Mr Ponton blinked and moved its mouth when he spoke.
Judge Ferguson told him: ‘Mr Ponton I believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings.’
‘Ahhh,’ Mr Ponton replied. ‘Can you hear me judge?’
‘I can hear you, I think it’s a filter,’ the judge said. Mr Ponton replied: ‘It is. I’ve got my assistant here and she’s trying to remove it but uh... Ah... I’m prepared to go forward with it. I’m here, live. I’m not a cat.’ The bemused judge told him: ‘I can see that.’ Rival attorneys H. Gibbs Bauer and Jerry L Phillips are seen trying to suppress smiles in the viral video – recorded and posted on Twitter by the judge for ‘educational purposes’. Mr Ponton said he had been using his secretary’s computer for the meeting.
‘I didn’t know Zoom could turn me into a cat, and I did not know a cat Zoom could turn me into an internet celebrity,’ he said. ‘I think the judge was amused, and took it in good humour.
‘In Texas we have a phrase, “You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube”.
‘I just had to laugh at myself along with everybody else. As it turns out it’s provided a good laugh, I think, for the country.’
Judge Ferguson said: ‘It was amusing but if you watch carefully you see everyone was extremely professional.’