Helen Hulick Imprisoned for Wearing Pants

On This Day in History: November 9, 1938

She was in court in Los Angeles as a witness for the prosecution to testify against two men who burglarized her home. But Helen Hulick wore pants, and the judge sent her to jail instead.

--On This Day in History Shit Went Down: November 9, 1938--

You know how some people, me included, hate the word “moist”? I’m the same way with referring to pants as “slacks.” But that’s what they called them back then. Except fuck that, let the anachronisms run wild. So, yeah. A couple of assholes broke into Helen’s home. On November 9, 1938, she showed up in court to testify wearing pants. The judge was all heavens to Betsy goodness gracious no won’t someone think of the children.

Judge Arthur Guerin rescheduled the case, telling Hulick that when she returned, she better be wearing a dress. Hulick was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times and was quoted in the paper the following day: “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.” That’s pretty badass.

Helen Hulick was a kindergarten teacher and used to dealing with obstinate children like the judge. She returned to court on November 15 and was all check out these pants, motherfucker. Like a typical five-year-old, the judge had a hissy fit. He said to her, “You drew more attention from spectators, prisoners and court attachés than the legal business at hand.” Then he spewed some bullshit about “orderly conduct” because he apparently didn’t have the ability to control his own courtroom when a woman wore pants in it. He told her to return the next day in a dress or prepare to be punished.

She showed up again in pants, prepared to be punished. The judge held her in contempt, sentencing her to five days in jail. Women weren’t allowed pants in jail either; her prison garb was a denim dress. She was ready to serve her time, but her attorney got her out with a writ of habeas corpus to take the matter before the appellate court to determine if her detention was legal.

The higher court said fuck that Judge Guerin guy. Let the woman go. She was free to return to court to testify, wearing pants. Except she didn’t. As a final fuck-you to the judge, after winning the right to wear pants, she went hard in the other direction, overdressing in the fanciest attire she possessed.

Because sometimes a woman wants to wear pants, and sometimes she wants to wear a fancy dress.

Those who cannot remember the past need a history teacher who says “fuck” a lot. Get both volumes of On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down. The holidays are coming and they make great gifts.

This post is from Volume I. Check out the cover: