Hot Bench

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Hot Bench
Hot Bench logo.png
Genre Nontraditional arbitration-based reality court show
Created by Judge Judy Sheindlin
Directed byKaren J. Beck
Presented bySonia Montejano
Gina Findley
Judges
  • Tanya Acker
  • Larry Bakman
  • Patricia DiMango
  • Michael Corriero
  • Rachel Juarez
  • Yodit Tewolde
  • Daniel Mentzer
Narrated by
Theme music composerMichael Egizi
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons12
No. of episodes2,000
Production
Executive producers
  • Randy Douthit
  • Maureen Fitzpatrick
  • James Glover
  • David Theodosopoulus
Production locations Stamford Studios
Stamford, Connecticut
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Syndication
ReleaseSeptember 15, 2014 (2014-09-15) –
present

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.

Contents

For the first two seasons, Hot Bench was presided over by Judge Tanya Acker, Judge Larry Bakman, and former Supreme Court of Brooklyn, New York, justice Patricia DiMango. Beginning with the third season, Judge Michael Corriero joined, replacing Bakman.

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

PersonnelRoleSeasons
123456789101112
Tanya AckerJudge, co-host Main
Larry BakmanJudge, co-host Main
Patricia DiMango Judge, co-host Main
Michael CorrieroJudge, co-host Main
Rachel JuarezJudge, co-host Main
Yodit TewoldeJudge, co-host Main
Sonia MontejanoBailiff Recurring
Daniel MentzerJudge, co-host Main
Gina FindleyBailiff Recurring

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'." [1] On April 26, 2024, Hot Bench has been renewed for its eleventh and twelfth seasons through 2025–2026 season. [2]

Casting

The current panel consists of Rachel Juarez, Yodit Tewolde, and Daniel Mentzer 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).

During the first two seasons, the panel consisted of attorneys Tanya Acker and Larry Bakman, along with former Brooklyn New York Supreme Court judge Patricia DiMango. [3]

In the beginning of the third season, Bakman announced that he was leaving Hot Bench to focus on his law practice. Michael Corriero was named Bakman’s successor. 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. [4]

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

In January 2025, Corriero announced he would leave the panel following the conclusion of the series' eleventh season. [5] Two months later, trial attorney Daniel Mentzer was named as Corriero's replacement.

The bailiff for the first 11 years was Sonia Montejano, who previously served as the bailiff for Judge Joe Brown from 2006-2013. After the show's relocation to Connecticut; Retired New York City Police Department Chaplains Unit detective Gina Findley was named as her successor. [6]

Release

On December 11, 2014, Hot Bench was renewed for a second season. [7] 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. As of January 27, 2025, same-day airings air on Dabl.

Accolades

Hot Bench has been nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards.

AssociationYear [a] CategoryNominee(s) / WorkResultRef(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 GloverNominated [8]
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 MontejanoNominated [9]
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 MontejanoNominated [10]

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ Marechal, AJ (January 23, 2014). "CBS To Launch New Courtshow From Judge Judy In Fall". Variety . Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 26, 2024). "'Judge Judy' Repeats & 'Hot Bench' Renewed Through 2025-26 In Syndication". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Hot Bench" adds a third judge, New York Post, 26 October 2016
  5. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 21, 2025). "'Hot Bench': Judge Michael Corriero To Retire, Rachel Juarez & Yodit Tewolde To Return For Season 12". Deadline Hollywood . United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 27, 2025). "Hot Bench Brings In New Judge & Bailiff For Season 12; Daniel Mentzer Succeeds Judge Michael Corriero". Deadline Hollywood . United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ "'Hot Bench' Renewed for Season Two". broadcastingcable.com. December 11, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ Montgomery, Daniel. "2017 Daytime Emmy nominations: Full list of nominees". goldderby.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Montgomery, Daniel. "2020Daytime Emmy winners: Full list of nominees and winners in all categories". goldderby.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ 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.
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