A federal courtroom in Texas turned into a spectacle Tuesday when a judge pulled the plug on the highly anticipated trial of nine alleged Antifa activists accused in a brazen Independence Day ambush at an ICE facility.

The reason? A T-shirt.

U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman declared a mistrial after discovering that one of the defense attorneys appeared in court wearing what he viewed as an inappropriate political statement beneath her blazer. The lawyer, MarQuetta Clayton — who represents defendant Maricela Rueda — reportedly sported a shirt featuring prominent civil rights figures during jury selection.

After Clayton questioned potential jurors for 22 minutes, Pittman learned the shirt displayed images of Shirley Chisholm and Martin Luther King Jr..

The judge was blunt.

“I don’t know why in the world you would think that’s appropriate,” Pittman told Clayton.

Stunned by what he described as unprecedented courtroom conduct, Pittman added, “This has to be a first in the history of American jurisprudence, I would think. I’m left with no other choice.”

Other defense attorneys protested the decision, but the judge stood firm. He announced he would convene a show-cause hearing requiring Clayton to explain why she should not face sanctions.

The mistrial throws a wrench into the prosecution of nine individuals accused of carrying out what federal authorities say was a coordinated attack on the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4, 2025.

According to prosecutors, the group — described as members of a North Texas Antifa cell — allegedly set off fireworks, vandalized property, and opened fire on federal officers outside the ICE facility. An Alvarado police officer responding to a 911 call was shot in the neck but survived the attack.

The defendants have denied any wrongdoing.

Jury selection had just begun, with 75 potential jurors brought in Tuesday. Around 20 reportedly expressed opposition to ICE’s efforts to enforce immigration law. One prospective juror stated, “We’re a family of immigrants.”

With the proceedings now reset, a new pool of 130 jurors is scheduled to report next week as the court attempts to restart the case from square one.