A routine court hearing took an unusual turn after a judge halted proceedings when a woman appeared on video in a bathrobe and casually scratched her boobs in front of the camera.
The incident, which has since gone viral online, unfolded during a hearing where the judge was explaining plea deal options to defendants.
Midway through the explanation, the woman reached into her bathrobe and scratched the side of her breast, prompting the judge to stop.
“Ma’am, are you in a bathrobe? With no clothes underneath, scratching your boob?” the judge asked in disbelief.
Caught off guard, the woman admitted, “Yeah.”
The judge quickly responded:
“That’s not appropriate for court. Okay, we’re gonna put you back in the waiting room. Go try again, you know, put on some other sort of outfit and then we’ll bring you back over and still try to get you done today, okay? But you are in court.”
The woman, seemingly embarrassed, agreed before being removed from the virtual courtroom.
Viral Courtroom Moment
The exchange spread widely across social media platforms, sparking debate over courtroom decorum in the era of remote hearings. While some viewers found the clip humorous, others noted that judges continue to struggle with maintaining professionalism in digital proceedings as defendants join from home environments.
One humorous comment went, “She said we both wearing robes today 😂,” referring to the judge wearing a “robe” too.
Another said, “We can go robe for robe . We can go 10-20 …… YEARS! 🤣.”
Legal experts have explained that despite the informal setting of virtual hearings, defendants are still expected to appear in attire appropriate for court.
Broader Context
This is not the first time virtual court appearances have drawn attention for unusual behavior.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic shifted many legal proceedings online, judges have encountered defendants appearing shirtless, smoking, or even attending hearings from vehicles.
The viral moment underscores how the courtroom—whether physical or virtual—remains a formal setting where rules of respect and decorum still apply.
