A courtroom exchange in Michigan’s Pittsfield Township has gone viral after a defendant accidentally called the judge “babe” during a routine traffic hearing, leaving everyone in stitches. The courtroom footage of the hearing, which took place in November 2024, has amassed more than 740,000 views on YouTube’s GavelGazers Court Watch channel.
The defendant, Sisha Bennet, appeared before Judge Cedric Simpson over a double-parking charge. During her court appearance, Bennet admitted she had only received her driver’s license two days ago and had driven to the court without bringing it with her.
“I was so geeked to come to court; I thought I had my wallet and everything in my purse, but I don’t,” she said. The judge asked her, “You came to court; you don’t have your license. Did you drive?” To which Bennet responded, “I’m not a good liar, so yes, sir, I did [drive], but I’m legal though.”
She then asked Judge Simpson if she could take an Uber home to retrieve the license. While addressing the court, Bennet accidentally referred to the judge as “babe” instead of “sir.” The slip of the tongue instantly lightened the mood in the courtroom.
Rather than taking offense, Judge Simpson burst into laughter and responded with good humor. He joked that being called “babe” wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever been called.
“Can I go, can I call Uber? I can go home, get them, babe—I mean, sir,” she said.
Judge Simpson’s lighthearted reaction eased Bennet’s embarrassment. “It’s okay, I take no offense. I’ve been called a whole lot of things, I promise you, not a bad thing,” he said.
The hearing continued without incident, with Bennet pleading guilty to the double-parking violation and agreeing to pay a $180 fine. The court gave her until February 28, 2025, to make the payment. Before wrapping up the hearing, the judge smiled and reminded Bennet to drive safely.
Since the video was uploaded, viewers have embraced the wholesome moment, with many comparing the mistake to similar situations.
A netizen wrote, “Omg, this is the adult version of calling your teacher mom.”
Another commented, “I’m convinced; the judge and the defendant were either married or best friends in a past life. The natural chemistry is remarkable. I’ve never seen a judge giggle this much during a hearing with someone they’ve never met before, let alone a defendant.”
A third comment read, “It’s truly enlightening to see that not everything needs to be so damn serious. I’m sure everybody was healthier and happier because of the fun and laughter.”
A fourth user wrote, “That’s one of those ladies that calls everyone baby. I always called everybody hon, but I don’t anymore. People get offended by it now. But it was a hard habit to break.”
Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.
