A Texas attorney has gone viral this week after saying that a judge decided she was not dressed appropriately for the job.
As The New York Post reported, former San Antonio-based reporter Mariah Medina wrote on X on Monday that she was wearing a dress she had worn countless times, both at her old job and at other courts, without issue.
But Judge Yolanda Huff, who has been on the bench since 2019, had a different take. She deemed the attire “inappropriate,” which a confused Medina then tried to explain was a “shift dress.”
Medina’s post on the subject so far has garnered nearly 7 million views.
This is what I was wearing today when a judge said that I was inappropriately dressed for court.
It’s a dress I’ve worn on air countless times and a dress that I have worn to other courts without issue.
I was confused, so I explained that it’s a shift dress… pic.twitter.com/PUIeyOKGFS
— Mariah Medina (@MMedinanews) September 21, 2026
Medina also said Judge Huff further humiliated her by asking her to come around the bench in front of everyone to inspect her outfit. She then laughed and asked if she really thought the dress was appropriate.
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.
— Mariah Medina (@MMedinanews) September 21, 2026
Here is the dress Medina said she was wearing to court, which she says she has worn countless times before.
The dress is a tan-like color and exposes her shoulders. But there does not seem to be anything exactly provocative.
LOOK:
Medina’s post garnered a wide array of responses. The majority appeared to side with her, though there were some dissenting opinions.
One of the people taking up for Medina was Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.
It’s like 100 degrees in Texas people. We don’t have sharia law here. What are we talking about. It isn’t casual or vulgar.
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) September 21, 2026
Incredibly dumb and biased of the judge.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) September 22, 2026
Didn’t they give you lessons on appropriate attire in law school? Most places do. Do you think it would be appropriate for a man to go to court in a tank top to defend his clients?
— cooltradwife (@notanothertrad) September 22, 2026
Retired lawyer. 42 years. Over 100 jury trials in state and federal courts. Dozens of oral arguments in state appellate courts and the 9th Circuit. The dress is fine. The judge was being petty. Publicly shaming you was way out of line.
— David Lipartito (@rider2reader) September 23, 2026
If a judge says it’s inappropriate to wear in their courtroom. It’s inappropriate end of discussion.
— Bradley (@wellactually89) September 21, 2026
The judge was out of line. There is nothing wrong with your dress. It covers everything. Next time, wear the tightest dress you own with the tiniest jacket type thing that makes your boots the center of attention. Some women don’t appreciate other women looking like women and…
— readingmylifeaway (@AliceCaterpill1) September 23, 2026
You are inappropriately dressed for court. Put a jacket on. I’m a woman a year younger than you. And I interned for a judge. You wore it without issue because no one said anything, not because it was appropriate.
— RL (@Pnl0828) September 22, 2026
Medina also appeared on Inside Edition on Wednesday to talk about her ‘ordeal.’
I was on Inside Edition today 🙂 pic.twitter.com/KQyIlVI25m
— Mariah Medina (@MMedinanews) September 24, 2026
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