The way she says "That is correct your honor" the second time while trying not to laugh is like the perfect encapsulation of what being public defender is like. Most people would not believe the sheer amount of stupidity witnessed by PDs, and sometimes you just gotta laugh. Still, they show up and go to bat for you, even if you're doing the thing they're defending you against at the time.
I like to think he tried to come up for a reason for missing court, and went with "doctor" instinctively, forgetting he was on a video call and not sick, and likely wouldn't have scheduled a doctors appointment for the exact same time he had court to try and postpone jail by a month.
It's usually less that that too. Typically if you show you have got your license within the time of getting the ticket they let you go. If he just showed up and said he has an appointment or was going to make one, the judge would've made another date so that he could prove he got his license. Then no fine or jail.
Happened to me. I was pulled over without a license. Immediately went and got my license. They made a date but the mailing address they sent to I wasn't there. Being dumb I thought meant it was handled.
Lo and behold like 10 years later, when I'm getting hired for my current job they say I have a bench warrant. I went down to the courthouse the next day, the judge gave me a real weird look since it's been like 10 years, and said " do you have your license " I showed it to him, and then let me go.
?? I feel like you're jumping a handful of steps to reach that conclusion. This has nothing to do with whether the judge thinks it will stop him from committing a crime.
It's pretty simple, don't commit an obvious crime, especially in front of law enforcement.
As someone who frequently explains to people why their driving privileges have been suspended, even though they have never had a license, this video really tickled me. The dumbness knows no bounds.