Hot Bench

Hot Bench is an American nontraditional panel-based court show that debuted in first-run syndication on September 15, 2014. The series was conceptualized and produced for CBS Media Ventures by Judith Sheindlin of Judge Judy fame, alongside executive producers Randy Douthit, Maureen FitzPatrick, David Theodosopoulos, and co-executive producer James Glover.

Hot Bench
Hot Bench Title card
Genre	Nontraditional arbitration-based reality court show
Created by	Judge Judy Sheindlin
Directed by	Karen J. Beck
Presented by	Judge Tanya Acker[1] Judge Larry Bakman[2] Judge Patricia DiMango[3] Judge Michael Corriero[4] Judge Rachel Juarez[5] Judge Yodit Tewolde[6] Bailiff Sonia Montejano
Narrated by	Rino Romano Christopher Thomas
Opening theme	Michael Egizi
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	1,535
Production
Executive producers	Randy Douthit Maureen Fitzpatrick James Glover David Theodosopoulus
Production locations	Sunset Bronson Studios Hollywood, California
Camera setup	Multiple camera
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	Big Ticket Television Queen Bee Productions
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 15, 2014 (2014-09-15) – present

Format

The series features a panel of three judges. The panel acts as an arbitral tribunal, and as with most televised court shows, the cases are a form of binding arbitration in which the litigants forgo their actual lawsuit in favor of appearing on the program.

Personnel

Personnel	Role	Seasons
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Tanya Acker	Judge, co-host	Main
Larry Bakman	Judge, co-host	Main
Patricia DiMango	Judge, co-host	Main
Michael Corriero	Judge, co-host			Main
Rachel Juarez	Judge, co-host									Main
Yodit Tewolde	Judge, co-host									Main
Sonia Montejano	Bailiff	Recurring

Current cast

• Michael Corriero (seasons 3–present): Judge, co-host
• Rachel Juarez (seasons 9–present): Judge, co-host
• Yodit Tewolde (seasons 9–present): Judge, co-host
• Sonia Montejano (seasons 1–present): Bailiff

Former cast

• Larry Bakman (seasons 1–2): Judge, co-host
• Tanya Acker (seasons 1–8): Judge, co-host
• Patricia DiMango (seasons 1–8): Judge, co-host

Other notable cast

• Rino Romano: Narrator
• Christopher Thomas: Narrator

Background and production

Development

The concept was inspired by Judy's vacation to Ireland, a country which occasionally uses panels of three judges to handle one case: "When my husband Jerry and I were in Ireland recently, we visited the courts and watched a three-judge bench, which I found both fascinating and compelling." She added, "I immediately thought what a terrific and unique idea for a television program that brings the court genre to the next level. We have assembled three individuals with extremely varied backgrounds to serve as the judges. They are smart and talented, with terrific instincts and great chemistry, and are sure to create a 'hot bench'."^[7]

On April 26, 2024, Hot Bench has been renewed for its eleventh and twelfth seasons through 2025–26 season.^[8]

Casting

The current panel consists of Michael Corriero, Rachel Juarez, and Yodit Tewolde, who preside over small-claims cases and then argue the merits of the case amongst themselves in the chamber room before rendering a verdict (under the format, only a majority—two of the three-panel members—need to agree on the verdict). Before them, the panel consisted of attorneys Tanya Acker and Larry Bakman, along with former Brooklyn New York Supreme Court judge Patricia DiMango.^[9]

In October 2016, Bakman announced that he was leaving Hot Bench to focus on his law practice. Bakman's final episodes originally aired on October 28, 2016, and Corriero's first episode was scheduled to originally air on November 1, 2016, with series creator Judge Judy Sheindlin and her husband, former The People's Court judge Jerry Sheindlin, serving as guest judges on the Halloween 2016 original broadcasts.^[10]

In the fall of 2022, DiMango and Acker were replaced on the show by Juarez and Tewolde, while Corriero assumed the chief judge position.

The bailiff is Sonia Montejano, who was also the bailiff for Judge Joe Brown from 2006 to its end in 2013.

Release

On December 11, 2014, Hot Bench was renewed for a second season.^[11] The show airs in the UK on TruTV, and in Canada on Yes TV and in syndication. The show has produced 1,535 episodes as of September 8, 2022.

Accolades

Hot Bench has been nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards.

Association	Year[lower-alpha 1]	Category	Nominee(s) / Work	Result	Ref(s)
Daytime Emmy Awards	2017	Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program	Randy Douthit, Maureen FitzPatrick, Amy Freisleben, Angela Ford, Jocelyn Jackson, Emily Michele, Arthur Thompkins, Kirk Leins, Christopher Thomas, Tanya Acker, Michael Corriero, Patricia DiMango, and James Glover	Nominated	[12]
	2020	Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program	David Theodosopoulus, Amy Freisleben, Belinda Jackson, James Glover, Debbie Alpert, Sylvia Fierro, Jeffrey Pitts, Arthur Thompkins, Gina Yates, Kirk Leins, Christopher Thomas, Tanya Acker, Michael Corriero, Particia DiMango, and Sonia Montejano	Nominated	[13]
	2023	Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program	David Theodosopoulos, James Glover, Belinda Jackson, Debbie Alpert, Sylvia Fierro, Karen J. Beck, Chris Thomas, Jennifer Chandler, Jeff Pitts, DeLeesa Rouse, Destiny Sirivong, Lois Yaffee, Gina Yates, Tanya Acker, Michael Corriero, Patricia M. Di Mango, Rachel Juarez, Yodit Tewoldeand and Sonia Montejano	Nominated	[14]

Notes

1. Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

1. "Amazon Freevee Orders Judy Sheindlin Court Show 'Tribunal' with 'Judge Judy' Bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd, 'Hot Bench's Patricia DiMango & Tanya Acker". 28 April 2022.
2. "'Hot Bench' adds a third judge". 26 October 2016.
3. "Amazon Freevee Orders Judy Sheindlin Court Show 'Tribunal' with 'Judge Judy' Bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd, 'Hot Bench's Patricia DiMango & Tanya Acker". 28 April 2022.
4. "'Hot Bench' adds a third judge". 26 October 2016.
5. "'Hot Bench' Adds 2 New Judges for Season 9". 19 October 2022.
6. "'Hot Bench' Adds 2 New Judges for Season 9". 19 October 2022.
7. Marechal, AJ (January 23, 2014). "CBS To Launch New Courtshow From Judge Judy In Fall". Variety. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
8. Andreeva, Nellie (April 26, 2024). "'Judge Judy' Repeats & 'Hot Bench' Renewed Through 2025-26 In Syndication". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
9. Yaniv, Oren (January 23, 2014). "Judge gives up gig in Brooklyn for TV show, 'Hot Bench,' produced by Judge Judy". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
10. "Hot Bench" adds a third judge, New York Post, 26 October 2016
11. "'Hot Bench' Renewed for Season Two". broadcastingcable.com. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
12. Montgomery, Daniel. "2017 Daytime Emmy nominations: Full list of nominees". goldderby.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
13. Montgomery, Daniel. "2020Daytime Emmy winners: Full list of nominees and winners in all categories". goldderby.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
14. Fabian Brathwaite, Lester. "The Daytime Emmy Awards celebrate 50th year as General Hospital leads with 19 nominations". ew.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Hot Bench at IMDb