DETROIT (WJW) — A Detroit mother got an earful from a judge after she was seen preparing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich during a virtual court hearing.
The judge also took issue with her attire and the fact that she showed up late for the hearing.
According to news outlets Fox 2 and CBS News Detroit, Asja Outerbridge appeared before the judge for a misdemeanor for allegedly having an open alcohol container as a passenger in a car.
Footage from Detroit’s 36th District Court captured the contentious back-and-forth between Judge Sean Perkins and Outerbridge.
Outerbridge told CBS News Detroit she had multiple court dates and thought her hearing started at 1 p.m. When she realized it was actually a 9 a.m. start time, she logged onto the Zoom call but ended up in a waiting room for more than two hours, during which time she donned a robe.
At the start of the hearing, Judge Perkins first questioned Outerbridge about why she was late.
As Outerbridge was attempting to explain her tardiness to the judge, she was also seen scooping peanut butter from a jar.
“Put whatever you’re trying to prepare down,” the judge sternly tells her.
Outerbridge then panned the phone over to a little girl, telling the judge she was trying to feed her daughter.
Perkins then quickly turned his attention to Outerbanks’ clothing.
“You got to put your properly dress on, I don’t do the robe,” he told her.
Outerbridge shows the judge that she’s wearing a shirt under the robe and reiterated that her daughter is home sick from school and she was trying to make her food.
“Miss Outerbridge, I’m sorry that your daughter is sick, but again, you are in court, OK? And we’re going to treat it as such.”
Outerbridge then ditched the robe and showed the judge that she was wearing a T-shirt, but the judge ultimately ended the hearing.
The Detroit mother told Fox 2 that she was having “a mommy day,” and there was a “lot going on.”
Talking to CBS News Detroit afterwards, Outerbridge also said she was “in the wrong” and could’ve been better dressed and more prepared.
“I do genuinely, with a serious face, apologize to the judge,” she told the news outlet.