The former San Antonio television reporter shared a photo of the dress on social media, saying she had worn it “on air countless times” and in other courtrooms without an issue.
Express-News file photo
The Bexar County judge whose comments about a San Antonio defense attorney’s sleeveless dress sparked national attention is now responding to the controversy.
Former News 4 WOAI reporter Mariah Medina, 32, said County Court 12 Judge Yolanda Huff questioned the sleeveless J. Crew dress she wore to court on Sept. 21, asking her to approach the bench in front of other attorneys and defendants.
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Since Medina wrote about the encounter on X, the dispute has drawn national media attention and widespread discussion on social media.
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… https://t.co/PUIeyOKGFS
— Mariah Medina (@MMedinanews) September 21, 2026
In a statement released Friday, Huff stood by her handling of the incident, saying Medina appeared in court wearing a sleeveless dress, tennis shoes and a backpack.
“In my opinion, she was completely disrespectful to me as a judge and exhibited unprofessional behavior in the courtroom by failing to wear professional attire required during trial proceedings,” Huff said. “She now claims that I subjected her to public embarrassment in front of multiple defendants and attorneys when I questioned how she was dressed. I did not, in any way, embarrass her in open court.”
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Huff said she spoke “softly and quietly” to Medina, adding that the attorney had to lean forward to hear her.
READ MORE: Former San Antonio TV reporter pushes back after judge calls her dress inappropriate
Huff said Medina would have received guidance on courtroom attire through the Bexar County Managed Assigned Counsel program before beginning work as a defense attorney.
“This is not about fashion. This is about respect and decorum for the court and the judiciary,” Huff said.
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Huff also accused Medina of turning the incident into a “public spectacle” by posting it on social media. The judge has since released a YouTube video that she said shows their full interaction.
The video shows Medina approaching the bench wearing a sleeveless dress and carrying a backpack. Although the audio is difficult to hear, Medina can be seen leaning in as Huff speaks to her. Medina then steps back, gestures toward her outfit and says, “Judge, I am in a shift dress.”
Huff then asks Medina to walk around the bench before the two continue their conversation off camera.
Attached to her statement, Huff included the Bexar County Courts Local Rules, which state: “All lawyers and Court officials shall wear business attire while in attendance of the Court, providing judicial discretion may be exercised as the Court deems appropriate.”
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Medina has said she believed her outfit complied with the courtroom dress code posted outside the courtroom. Those posted guidelines, however, generally apply to defendants rather than attorneys.
Local Administrative Judge Melissa Vara declined to comment on whether Medina’s attire or her response to Huff was appropriate, referring questions to Huff’s statement.
Vara did say she believes “a broad search of business attire is going to say if you’re wearing a sleeveless dress to have a blazer on.”
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She also said she plans to ask the county to clarify what “business attire” means under the county court rules to help avoid similar disputes in the future.
All prosecutors with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office are required to wear blazers in the courtroom.