Judge calls out lawyer for 'inappropriate' outfit in front of entire courtroom

US defence lawyer Mariah Medina has clapped back at a judge for needlessly shaming her in front of a packed-out court.

Whether you're attending a criminal trial as a plaintiff, defendant or mere member of the public, it's understood that you're to dress relatively formally, in suits or dresses with a blazer.

However, one judge of a particularly stern nature took umbrage with Medina's professional attire in her courtroom, calling it 'inappropriate' for the occasion even though it was a 'quick in-and-out' situation that day.

Revealing as much on social platform X, the Texan showed the world exactly what she'd been wearing. Chastise-worthy? We think not.

"This is what I was wearing today when a judge said that I was inappropriately dressed for court," she wrote beside a photo and clip.

"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," the lawyer added.

Medina's outfit consisted of a sleeveless grey J Crew shift dress, which allegedly complied with the courthouse rules despite the judge's insistence she was out of line.

She has a list of things that she forbids in court re: attire, but this is not on that list.

"I grew up in a conservative church and I was truly confused," she continued. "It's appropriate length, doesn't expose cleavage... it's a J Crew dress for crying out loud, not a Hoochies Anonymous Club."

The judge herself took a verbal kicking in the aftermath.

"Apart from her having her dress code on the doors outside her court (that my dress didn't violate), it was completely mean-spirited and unprofessional to address it in the manner that she did. My case wasn't even going to trial today, and she, as the judge, knew that,” an incensed Medina argued. "She has a list of things that she forbids in court re: attire, but this is noton that list.

"It's not the hill to die on and I have no problem throwing a coat on in the couple months she has left on the bench after being voted out of office."

As you'd expect, the discourse wasn't black and white in the comment section, with plenty of X users suggesting the clothes were both fine and not so much.

"Is there something wrong with my eyes? I don't see anything wrong with this dress. Why would this judge say that?" one of them asked, before a second echoed: "A shift dress is a shift dress. If it's been acceptable everywhere else, I'd be confused too."

"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," read another reaction.

Somebody else pointed out: "My perspective is not that she's calling it immodest. It's simply less polished and authoritative than if you wore a nice blazer over it. It's about arguing a case in front of the jury. A blazer adds a sense of authority."