Texas Lawyer Defends Sleeveless Dress Amidst Backlash from Peers

San Antonio-based defense attorney Mariah Medina has encountered unexpected criticism from fellow lawyers after a judge deemed her sleeveless dress inappropriate for court. Despite receiving negative letters, particularly from other female attorneys, Medina remains unfazed.

The incident occurred when Medina wore a J. Crew sheath dress, which she had previously worn to court without issue and had also worn on air as a reporter. The judge in her case described the dress as a "tank top," leading to Medina's dismissal from court proceedings.

Medina, 25, took to social media to share her experience, posting images of the dress. She noted that while she received some supportive gestures, including a male colleague purchasing suit pants with shorts in solidarity, the backlash from some female attorneys was particularly surprising.

"The number of women attorneys who are just so ugly on the internet, I was like, ‘this is so strange,’" Medina stated. She added that she had anticipated more solidarity from her female peers, contrasting it with the criticism she received.

Medina defended her choice of attire, explaining that sleeveless dresses are practical for the Texas heat, especially in San Antonio. She commented on the irony of Texas's strong stance on the right to bear arms while seemingly having stricter interpretations of dress codes for "bare arms."