Rod Ponton of Texas may become the star of a viral video after appearing as a kitten during court appearance in Presidio County while livestreaming a civil forfeiture case before Judge Joseph Carignan.
Judge Roy Ferguson posted the amusing and quickly viraling incident and advised lawyers: if joining virtual hearings, make sure your filters are off.
Training
Rod Ponton, an attorney who does not resemble cats, found himself mistaken for one during a video call with a judge at Presidio county, Texas’ 394th Judicial District Court hearing. Viral footage captured this awkward moment when Ponton tried unsuccessfully to remove a kitten filter that appeared on his screen – this experience likely won’t be unique: others using Zoom or similar video conferencing software may find themselves trapped by filter traps as well.
Ponton will continue his hearing, even though she appears as a cat.
Work environment
Cats are independent creatures not well adapted to group living environments and tend to resist taking instructions from others. In 1998, lawyers with an INTJ Myer Briggs type were found most commonly. If you want to become a lawyer but find high stress environments competitive or overwhelming for you personally, considering moving into government positions or less stressful firms where your focus can remain solely on doing your work rather than competing with driven attorneys for “partner”.
The video of a Texas lawyer disproving that they were cats due to using a feline filter during a Zoom live call highlights how essential it is for all lawyers to understand the technology they utilize. With more discovery, mediation, and Court proceedings taking place virtually, it is crucial that lawyers are equipped to work outside their offices effectively.