A young Texas lawyer criticized by a judge over her sleeveless dress was shocked to later see that same judge smiling beside another attorney wearing a similarly bare-armed outfit. The incident has now prompted her to question whether race may have influenced the public reprimand.
Bexar County Judge Yolanda Huff, who is Black, scolded Mariah Medina, a Mexican American attorney, during a Monday court appearance over the sheath dress she was wearing.
But Medina, 32, recently shared with The Post photographs Huff posted to Facebook in April. The images show the 61-year-old judge smiling beside a Black attorney wearing a sleeveless dress at a swearing-in ceremony.
“Evidently it wasn’t the dress,” Medina said with a pointed quip.
“I don’t know whether my race, whether my age, whether my gender, I don’t know whether any of that played a factor,” Medina said. “If it was truly about the professionalism of my attire, I just would expect that it would be enforced across the board, and it’s evident here that it wasn’t enforced across the board.”
The defense lawyer previously worked as a television news reporter in San Antonio and has been practicing law for a little more than a year.
During an encounter at Bexar County Court that quickly went viral, Huff referred to Medina’s outfit as a “tank top.”
The judge then asked whether Medina was “ready for a trial dressed like that” before laughing at her in front of attorneys and defendants gathered in open court.
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The public dressing-down remained on Medina’s mind when she returned to the courthouse Wednesday.
She wore a red dress with sleeves while appearing before another judge, but the married mother of one said she felt uneasy walking into the courtroom.
“Still thinking about what happened,” Medina said. “I just know that seeing it on my feed, seeing people discuss me, my dress, seeing it on social media — it felt like, I wonder if people know about this or are talking about this.”
The J. Crew sheath dress at the heart of the controversy was bought four years ago for only $20. Medina owns the same style in pink, blue and red.
“In any event, it felt kind of bizarre because you know how parents always say something to the effect of, ‘Nobody is looking at you,’” she said. “It’s just been something that I thought was gonna blow off by now, but it only seems to be getting more and more attention.”
Medina, who spent a decade working as a journalist before changing careers, is scheduled to appear in Huff’s courtroom again in November.
Although female attorneys have worn sleeveless dresses in court, Medina is considering returning to Huff’s courtroom in the same dress — with one added layer.
“I would wear this dress again in her court, but with the blazer,” she said. “I would respect the wishes of the court. I have no intention of defying a judge’s authority.”
The Post contacted Huff for comment.
