Rod Ponton of Texas made headlines this week for accidentally appearing as a cat during a virtual court hearing, prompting millions of views online and inspiring him to sell Zoom-cat merchandise such as T-shirts and mugs as an attempt at turning this adorable misstep into profit.
Judge Roy Ferguson of the District Court tweeted the video as a public service announcement to remind viewers to check their Zoom video options prior to attending any hearings.
Judge Roy Ferguson’s Public Service Announcement
Judge Roy Ferguson of Texas’ 394th District Court wasn’t prepared for what transpired this month when he presided over a civil forfeiture hearing virtually; but since COVID-19 has spread across Texas and prevented lawyers from physical courtrooms, Ferguson has learned to expect unexpected outcomes during virtual hearings.
This week’s unexpectedness hit an all-time high when attorney Rod Ponton found himself appearing on a zoom call as a cat after struggling to remove a cat filter from his camera during proceedings. Video quickly went viral but unlike many people whose online misadventures go viral for negative reasons, Ponton took it all in good stride, remaining composed throughout this peculiar encounter.
Not surprisingly, Judge Ferguson praised him for his professionalism and attitude during what must have been a highly embarrassing situation. Additionally, in a series of tweets sent out via his account he encouraged viewers to watch the video in order to demonstrate that even experienced attorneys may experience technical glitches that require attention from them.
As technology glitches arise in our legal community, it is essential that we remain professional when such incidents arise and try our best to remain calm when they do. But the judge who oversees one of the largest judicial districts in the country – Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth Jeff Davis Presidio Val Verde counties – has more on his plate than just internet memes or cat lawyer antics.
Since Monday, Judge Coughlan has led his court through the process of renewing lawyers’ oaths to uphold state and federal constitutions in light of COVID-19 threats to rule of law. This event has become something of a public service announcement; Coughlan plans on making it an annual tradition.
As part of his time on the podcast, Judge Rector discussed the current state of his courtroom and his efforts to ensure lawyers and others have access to justice during this challenging period. He has been an educator to students, lawyers, civic associations, judges as well as teachers for such organizations as National Judicial College, TexasBarCLE and Texas Center for Judiciary among many others.
Ponton’s Confession
While Zoom mishaps have often made headlines online, Rod Ponton stands out. Although he’s experienced his fair share of mishaps over time, when it came to the cat filter blunder he was completely caught off guard and left completely speechless.
Ponton meowed like an abandoned feline during a Zoom call with Judge Roy Ferguson of Brewster County’s 394th Judicial District Court, Texas, because of confusion caused by video conference software’s feature called “animal eye filters”. Ponton claimed this feature turned him into an animal after clicking it.
Ponton apologized to everyone involved and insisted he wasn’t actually a cat, but Ferguson was unfazed; in fact, he provided Ponton with a step-by-step guide on how to remove the filter from video chat.
As soon as his call ended, Ponton uploaded the video to social media where it quickly went viral. At first he was taken aback by all the messages and calls that began pouring in but has since learned to accept his newfound fame without taking it personally: “Texans often say: ‘you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube’ so eventually I realized this video would go viral,” Ponton told Vice.
Once the video of his cat stint was made public, people from around the world shared their own Zoom fails and accidents that have caused some serious embarrassment. Even celebrities have fallen prey to Zoom missteps such as when comedic actress Tiffany Haddish accidentally displayed her crotch during a live video interview!
Ponton has had to find innovative solutions to keep his family healthy during this pandemic, using his experience as a father-of-three to assist other families who may be working from home during a crisis. According to Woman’s Day, working from home has been “fantastic” experience that he would recommend to anyone. His advice for other parents: be patient and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. And make sure animal eye filters are off while on video conferences with kids!
The Internet’s New Favorite Cat Lawyer
The Internet loves cat videos, and those on Zoom.us especially seem to appreciate a good blunder even more. Thus, the story of Texas lawyer Rod Ponton appearing as a cat has gone viral quickly – becoming millions of viewers’ new favorite feline lawyer!
Video footage captured of him attempting to make his way to court via Zoom on Tuesday for a civil forfeiture hearing shows an individual with the appearance of a white kitten with blue eyes, whiskers and white fur trying to enter. Unfortunately his face was hidden by large glasses covering up most of his face – much to Judge Roy Ferguson’s frustration. Throughout his attempts he failed to turn off the filter.
Zoom’s app includes filters that turn users into various animals – from wolves and boxers to wizards and felines – but this was the first time it accidentally rendered a lawyer into an adorable feline!
Though he may not be an adept user of Zoom, he handled everything with good humor and has received overwhelming support on his Google my Business page in form of FIVE-STAR REVIEWS from customers.
His explanation for becoming an adorable kitten was straightforward: he was using his assistant’s computer, likely with help from her young daughter installing the filter that turned him into one. Since he wasn’t online much recently, he didn’t realize the video had gone viral until reporters began reaching out asking for interviews and requests began flooding in.
This amusing little gaffe has brought much-needed light relief during this pandemic and proves how even seemingly minor missteps can bring lasting joy. It serves as a timely reminder to always review Zoom video options prior to entering meetings; who knows what might be lurking below the surface!
The Cat’s Tale
Attorney Rod Ponton had an unnerving start to an important virtual hearing when he launched Zoom video chat software and realized he looked like a cat, according to USA TODAY. A feline filter had automatically appeared on his laptop running “Live Cam Avatar,” an optional Dell program installed by default and which can be turned off – though whether or not Ponton actually did is unclear.
Paul Koudounaris’ narrative and design are charming in equal measures. Based in Los Angeles, Koudounaris’ research into pet cemeteries and charnel houses has become well-known within art history circles. While initially planning the book as an exploration of these subjects, his research led him to uncover many stories involving cats’ history that ultimately changed its course and become its subject matter.
Each chapter in this book is dedicated to an historical milestone in cat-human relationships. Unfortunately, some chapters can be very poignant, detailing some of the abuse and death that felines suffered at human hands – it can be heartbreaking but also provides us with a fascinating look into one of our beloved pets’ journey through time.
Other chapters are more lighthearted. A particularly engaging chapter details how Baba assisted with rescuing an opera singer while another explores cats’ ability to communicate with the dead. Plus there are great photos of Baba wearing period clothing along with historic photos and newspaper clippings – making for an informative yet entertaining read even for non-cat enthusiasts!
While many may dismiss cats as fluffy pets with no history or purpose beyond amusing us, The Cat’s Tale shows their significant history, full of heroism, tragedy and gravitas. Cats may rule the internet but this book shows they are true warriors at heart who deserve our appreciation as true warriors – an exceptional chronicle that all cat lovers should enjoy!