Mass Black Judge

A viral video showing a lawyer disguised as a cat on zoom call has reignited interest in virtual hearings. Judge Ferguson used this incident as an educational reminder, emphasizing how crucial it is to review video options prior to joining any zoom meeting and ensure filters are disabled before joining.

Video Mishaps

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, zoom calls have witnessed numerous video mishaps ranging from reporters accidentally broadcasting their visits to restrooms to New Jersey school board member who appeared as an enormous pink penis during public meeting. Perhaps most entertaining of all was lawyer Rod Ponton appearing as a cat during virtual hearing in Presidio County court; Judge Ferguson recorded this incident on video and has made it available for media use with a note suggesting it be used “for educational purposes only.”

Ferguson stated that his video wasn’t meant to shame Ponton or any of his colleagues; rather, it serves as a reminder for Zoom users to check and ensure all filters are off before shooting video footage.

The Pandemic

The pandemic has brought virtual hearings more readily available than ever, but has also caused numerous video mishaps. From embarrassing screen names and quirky avatars, people have been finding creative ways to appear ridiculous during Zoom calls – sometimes seriously and even life-threateningly; other times more comical.

Rod Ponton appeared as a cat during a Zoom call with Judge Roy Ferguson of the 394th District Court in February 2021. He explained that he was using his assistant’s computer and her daughter changed its filter settings before hearing began.

The video of this hearing went viral and quickly became an internet meme, featuring cat filters as T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, baby onesies, acrylic blocks and even bobble heads. While humorous in nature, this video serves as an important reminder about checking filter before joining any virtual meeting.

Public Service Announcement

Public service announcements (PSAs) are a type of media communication intended to educate or inform audiences on pertinent social issues, using print and audiovisual media formats. When producing PSAs it’s crucial to take account of their intended audiences in terms of creating one that’s most effective in reaching them.

Texas attorney Rod Ponton recently made headlines for appearing as a cat while using Zoom video conferencing software. Video of this incident went viral, earning Rod Ponton the moniker “Zoom Cat Lawyer.” Despite the comical turn of events, all involved handled it with dignity – from filtering his speech through to Judge Ferguson praising his professionalism – Judge Ferguson offered a public service announcement reminding people to check their Zoom options prior to joining any hearing; an important reminder in today’s uncertain and unpredictable environment.

Final Words

At a time when viral videos featuring pink penis sculptures, school board member masturbating before her colleagues and BBC News interviewee going to the toilet have made headlines for all sorts of bizarre reasons, Texas cat lawyer has become the internet’s go-to video blunder related to felines.

Judge Ferguson took to his Twitter account to issue an important public service announcement for Zoom users: If you use Zoom for virtual hearings, please check your ‘Zoom video options’ to make sure all filters are off,” wrote Judge Ferguson.

As Rod Ponton struggled to remove his filter from his screen, his expression of sorrow spoke volumes. But quickly enough, the incident was over and hearings resumed as scheduled. Unfortunately, this experience won’t be the last time that Zoom users find themselves trapped as unwanted felines; history suggests this likely won’t be either.