US3 min(s) read
A young lawyer has defended herself after a strict judge labeled her dress “inappropriate” because it did not cover her shoulders in front of her colleagues and defendants.
Mariah Medina, a defense attorney and former San Antonio-based reporter, took to X on Monday, September 21, to share a photograph of the controversial dress and the reaction her senior had to it.
During the two-minute trial announcement docket at the Bexar County Government building, Mariah wore a knee-length, fitted, but not figure-hugging grey sleeveless dress from J. Crew.
At some point amid the session, which she described as a quick in-and-out ordeal, the judge allegedly ordered her to stand at the bench for a closer look.
Recalling the distressing moment, Mariah said on X: “She had me come around the bench so she could see my outfit… in front of defendants and other lawyers.
“She laughed and asked if I really believed that my dress was appropriate for a jury trial… then asked me if I had a blazer in my car.”
After revealing that she chose the dress over a blouse that showed more cleavage at the last moment, Mariah claimed: “It’s a dress I’ve worn on air countless times and a dress that I have worn to other courts without issue.”
In the same social media post, she shared a video of herself wearing the same dress while reading a news bulletin in her previous job as a journalist.
She added: posted that old video alongside the photo so you could see it wasn’t backless and "doesn’t show side boob or anything.”
Despite the humiliation she was subjected to in the courthouse, Mariah remains adamant that she complied with the judicial building’s dress code.
Bexar County Criminal Court rules state that all attorneys and court officials should wear business attire, but business casual wear is acceptable if allowed by individual judges.
Criticising the Judge, Mariah also added: “Apart from her having her dress code on the doors outside her court (that my dress didn’t violate), it was completely mean-spirited and unprofessional to address it in the manner that she did. My case wasn’t even going to trial today, and she, as the judge, knew that.
“She has a list of things that she forbids in court re: attire, but this is not on that list. I grew up in a conservative church and I was truly confused. It’s appropriate length, doesn’t expose cleavage… it’s a J Crew dress for crying out loud, not a Hoochies Anonymous Club.”
After the post went somewhat viral, comments flooded in, with the majority of X users agreeing with the defense attorney that the dress is professionally appropriate.
One person asked: “Is there something wrong with my eyes? I don’t see anything wrong with this dress. Why would this judge say that?”
