Mariah Medina speaks out on the sleeveless dress controversy.
Medina was previously an investigative reporter at News $ San Antonia/ Fox San Antonio and she said this was the first time that she was told that her clothes were not suitable for court. So much so that she had to lean forward to hear me.
As the Internet debates criminal defense attorney Mariah Medina’s sleeveless dress during a hearing for which she got an earful from a female judge in front of other attorneys and defendants, Medina said her reaction was “honestly, pure shock”. Yolanda Huff, the judge called her knee-length sleeveless dress a “tank top” and Medina said the encounter left her “embarrassed, demeaned, honestly in disbelief”. “I’ve been treated professionally by many judges and fellow lawyers, and this was a first,” Medina told Jesse Weber Live adding that there is no dress code that says the shoulders need to be covered. Medina said Judge Huff addressed her attire in front of others, telling her, “She said that the dress that I was wearing, which is the dress I’m wearing now, was inappropriate. Judge Huff said she thought Medina was completely disrespectful to her as the judge. I asked her if she had a blazer and she said, ‘I have many things in my car.'” Huff added, “In my opinion, she was completely disrespectful to me as the judge and exhibited unprofessional behavior in the courtroom by failing to wear professional attire required during trial proceedings. If you notice in the video people around us were completely unaware of our conversation,” Huff said. Huff also said, “Ms Medina made this a public spectacle by posting to social media.
“I asked her if she thought she was dressed appropriately for the trial docket and she stated, ‘yes. “I did not, in any way, embarrass her in open court. I spoke very softly and quietly to Ms. Medina. Every law student, attorney and Judge are aware of the proper attire for court.