‘I’m Just Trying To Feed My Daughter’: Mom Making PB&J Gets Kicked Out of Virtual Court Hearing

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Taking care of small children doesn’t always lend itself to the confines of an adult schedule. Kids don’t care about our deadlines, prior commitments, or other pertinent grown-up business. The dichotomy of being a parent and a person is a juggling act. When is it appropriate to make your child wait while you take care of business? Will the adults in the room have sympathy for your child’s pressing needs?

One Detroit mother decided to prioritize her child during an appearance in front of a judge and it didn’t exactly go well.  

Asia Outerbridge showed up late for her court hearing.

Asia Outerbridge met before 36th District Court Judge Sean Perkins on Zoom, for allegedly having an open container of alcohol as a passenger in a car, the Daily Mail reported. The court hearing began on the wrong foot. The hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Outerbridge showed up at 9:22. When questioned about her tardiness, she held up a piece of paper claiming the hearing started at 1 p.m. 

Her attire was also questionable.

Sadly, things continued to spiral from there. The judge noticed her attire. “Is that a robe?” Judge Perkins asked. Outerbridge attempted to defend her clothing, claiming she was “properly dressed.” “I have on a T-shirt!” she said. He also realized he didn’t have Outerbridge’s undivided attention. “Put whatever you’re trying to prepare down,” he said. 

Outerbridge was making her daughter a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

“I’m just trying to feed my daughter,” she explained. She told the court that her daughter was sick and so she had to keep her home and had to multi-task.

“I’m sorry that your daughter is sick,” Judge Perkins began. “But again, you are in court,” he said. “And we’re going to treat it as such.” As Outerbridge kept talking, trying to defend herself, her activities, and her ensemble, Judge Perkins ended the call and the hearing. 

Outerbridge was on hold for two hours.

Later, in an interview with CBS News, Outerbridge offered an explanation for her behavior, beginning with her lateness. “I got multiple court dates, so I called to get the Zoom number, and they had told me like, ‘Oh, you’re supposed to be there right now.’  What I had said 1 p.m.,” she explained. “I hung up with them, and hopped on at 9:22 a.m. exactly, and waited there from 9:22 to 11:30. That’s when the robe thing happened, and then he put me back in holding. So with being on hold for 2 hours, I’m not going to lie, I kind of forgot he was on the phone.”

Once she realized the hearing had commenced, she ran back to her phone, wearing her robe, PB&J in tow. 

Outerbridge is taking accountability for her actions.

“I definitely was wrong,” she admitted. “I could have came dressed better and more prepared, and I don’t want to judge to think that I’m laughing at the situation at him because I’m not. I take that very seriously, I do genuinely, with a serious face, apologize to the judge,” she said. “I’m a personal stylist, so I know how to present myself,” she continued. “But that day, you know, it’s hard for moms out here. I’m not gonna lie.”