Mistrial Declared in ICE Ambush Trial Over Attorney's Shirt

A federal judge in Fort Worth, Texas, declared a mistrial on Tuesday during jury selection in the trial of nine individuals accused of ambushing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility near Dallas last July, citing the attire of a defense attorney as potentially prejudicial.

The ruling came less than half an hour into questioning of prospective jurors when U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman noticed the T-shirt worn by MarQuetta Clayton, who represents defendant Maricela Rueda. The shirt featured images of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Shirley Chisholm, along with other related imagery. Court rules prohibit attorneys and others involved in cases from wearing clothing with political or graphic messages that could influence proceedings.

Pittman expressed frustration with Clayton's line of questioning, which referenced the death that morning of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, and then addressed her outfit directly. "I don't know why in the world you would think that's appropriate," the judge told her, according to court observers. He compared the shirt to a prosecutor wearing an ICE pin or imagery supporting former President Donald Trump, arguing...