Attorney Faces Jail for Wearing Green Tennis Shoes in Court

A public defender faces a week in jail for wearing green tennis shoes.

Superior Court Judge William Scholl had ordered Ralph Malanga last month not to wear his green tennis shoes in court. But Malanga showed up wearing the shoes the next day.

Scholl sentenced the lawyer Monday, saying the shoes detracted from the court’s dignity. In addition, he prohibited Malanga from seeing other lawyers during his jail term.

Malanga said he probably would ask the state Court of Appeals to stay the sentence, then added, “Maybe I’ll just let him put me in jail if he thinks that’s appropriate.”