Judge Jails Woman For Wearing Pants To Court

A crime of fashion?

You tell the judge I will stand on my rights. If he orders me to change into a dress I won’t do it. I like slacks. They’re comfortable…. I’ll come back in slacks and if he puts me in jail I hope it will help to free women forever of anti-slackism.

— Helen Hulick, a teacher who was set to testify at a trial in 1938, in response to being ordered by Judge Arthur Guerin to wear a dress, rather than pants, so as not to “hinder the administration of justice.”

Hulick returned to court for her next appearance wearing pants, and Judge Guerin held her in contempt, sentencing her to five days in jail. Hulick’s favorite pair of slacks were taken from her while she was in jail, but her contempt charge was later overturned by an appellate court.

Sponsored