These arbiters of justice might play to the cameras, but they know what they're doing in matters of the law.
Judge Judy might step down from her long-running, top-rated courtroom show when her contract expires in 2013. In honor of Her Honor, we look back at other TV judges who allowed cameras in their courts. Here’s the evidence.
After hospitalization for a recent on-set health scare, Judge Judy is recovering at her Florida home. Her semi-famous husband blamed her illness on allergies to whom?
Brown compares his rough-and-tumble L.A. childhood to a hard-hitting movie. During his downtime, the judge has scuba-dived in a similarly cutthroat environment.
Inspirational not just punitive, Detroit native Mathis rose from jail to judge with impressive speed, as told in his memoir. He and his wife run a youth charity.
The first Hispanic American (where was she born?) to host a U.S. court show, Milian was discovered by a producer who later found fame as an Internet gossip hound.
As a corporate attorney, Hatchett was once the top-ranking African-American woman at this national airline. She was also a board member of a fashion giant.
Ephriam competed on "Celebrity Fit Club," losing this many pounds to cap off an impressive three-year weight loss. She was also in a Tyler Perry movie ― as a judge.
Graduate of a top law school, Toler wrote in her memoir about separating emotion from intellect. She coined a phrase for senior breakups like Al and Tipper Gore’s.
The first TV judge to break this barrier, Florida-based Young once had lunch with his favorite Supreme Court justice. Young’s partner is also a judge, though not on TV.
After a scandal involving an emotional outburst by Lopez, she resigned from a top Massachusetts court. Producers came calling, hoping to capitalize on her Latin roots.
Of Colombian ancestry, Pérez speaks and writes about living by "los dichos." She won the first Emmy for Best Courtroom Program, defeating the favorite.
Featured in People magazine’s annual salute to sexiness, former cop Ferrer runs "a tight ship," lest his courtroom resemble a certain trash-TV show.