A no-nonsense Texas judge scolded a man who brazenly wore a t-shirt that said “World’s Best Farter” to his felony court appearance.
Jefferson County Judge Raquel West was less than pleased with defendant Sammy Morris’ fashion choice when he appeared in front of her inside her courtroom last week, footage posted to the 252nd District Court’s YouTube page shows.
“What made you think that was a good shirt to wear to court this morning?” West asked.
Morris mumbled that he picked the shirt — which said “World’s Best Farter,” then had “I mean father” scribbled underneath — because it was the only shirt he could find to wear.
“That was the only shirt you had to wear in your closet?” she questioned.
Morris tried arguing that the playful shirt said “father,” but the Texas judge wasn’t buying the excuse for his outfit choice.
“No, it says… I can read it. I see what it says at the bottom,” West said.
West then reprimanded the man for not dressing appropriately under the circumstances as to why he was present in her courtroom.
“You’re in felony court. You need to dress appropriately for felony court, and that’s not appropriate,” she said.
West then let out a loud sigh and continued with the court proceedings.
Courtroom participants — such as attorneys, parties and their representatives — are expected to wear “appropriate business attire in the courtroom” and “exercise common sense,” according to Texas courts.
The courts list a business suit or a sports coat with dress slacks, a collared dress shirt, and a tie as “appropriate business attire.”
The judge wasn’t through with Morris as she continued to scold him for not having hired an attorney to represent him during his appearance.
He claimed that he had called three lawyers before appearing in court, but he hadn’t heard back from any of them in time.
“You need to get someone hired, or you need to actually talk to three lawyers,” she said. “You can’t actually hire someone unless you really try.”
West then reset his case for 30 days and told him to get a lawyer.
“If you have to call 20 [lawyers] to get that done, then call 20,” the no-nonsense judge told him.
She then told him that if he appeared in court again without a lawyer, his bond would be “revoked,” and he would be sent back to jail.
It’s unclear what felony charge Morris is appearing in court for.
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