A Texas criminal defense attorney and broadcaster hit back at a wave of online critics after a judge told her the sleeveless dress she wore to court was inappropriate.
Mariah Medina, who was licensed to practice law in Texas in September 2025 after a career in San Antonio television news, posted a photograph of the gray sleeveless dress on X on Monday. The post had drawn more than 4.8 million views on X by Tuesday, according to the platform's public counter.
"It's a dress I've worn on air countless times and a dress that I have worn to other courts without issue," Medina wrote.
"She had me come around the bench so she could see my outfit… in front of defendants and other lawyers," she continued. "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."
"How is it inappropriate?" one user asked.
"My shoulders… you can see some of my shoulders," Medina answered.
"Such a disappointing interaction and a first since licensure," she wrote.
The judge posts a dress code outside her courtroom and keeps a list of clothing she forbids there, Medina wrote, and the dress violated neither. Medina did not name the judge.
"[I]t was completely mean spirited and unprofessional to address it in the manner that she did," the attorney noted. "My case wasn't even going to trial today, and she, as the judge, knew that."
Medina answered critic after critic over the hours that followed, several of them posting under pseudonyms rather than their own names, according to the thread.
"Didn't they give you lessons on appropriate attire in law school?… Do you think it would be appropriate for a man to go to court in a tank top to defend his clients?" one user wrote.
"Men are not women, so yeah it would be inappropriate. Furthermore, I wasn't wearing a tank top you dolt," Medina replied.
"[Y]ou're the one embarrassing yourself because you don't dress appropriately in court," the account shot back.
"Somehow despite me posting under my government name with a real photo of myself I find myself feeling more embarrassed for you," Medina answered.
"F— off and don't dress like a hooker in the court room," the account wrote.
"No promises!" Medina replied.
"I agree with the judge. He should have held you in contempt and tossed you in jail for 10 days… We take that as a starting point when it comes to loud modern women," another user wrote.
"I'm sorry you pee sitting down because your p--p-- is too small to make it into the toilet standing up," Medina answered.
