Texas lawyer rebuked by judge over courtroom attire

Defense attorney Mariah Medina has publicly criticized a judge in Bexar County, Texas, for what she describes as unprofessional and humiliating treatment regarding her courtroom attire. During a brief, two-minute trial announcement docket, a judge reportedly reprimanded Medina for wearing a sleeveless gray J. Crew shift dress that left her shoulders exposed.

Medina stated that the judge instructed her to approach the bench to inspect the clothing closely in front of defendants and other legal professionals. According to Medina, the judge laughed and questioned whether she believed the dress was appropriate for a jury trial, further asking if she had a blazer in her vehicle.

Medina, a former television reporter, defended her choice of clothing, noting that the dress did not violate the courthouse's posted dress code and that she had worn it many times on air and in other courts without issue. She argued that the interaction was unnecessary as the proceeding did not involve a jury and that the dress was a modest professional option chosen to avoid more revealing necklines.