Judge and Bailiff Trivia Quiz

Answer: Judge Alex

Judge Alex E. Ferrer is what you might call a judges' judge. He's one of, if not the only, television judge who's been from policeman to judge and lots of stops in between. Judge Alex is a member of the bar in the State of Florida as well as the District of Columbia. Judge Alex authored a bench book for other judges and court rooms. He is a go to judge for court procedure, closing arguments, terminology, and legalities. Sort of a "Robert's Rules of Order" for the court room. He is a native of Havana Cuba and has been featured in People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" issue.

Bailiff Mason C. Burroughs spent more than 18 years in different divisions and disciplines of the LAPD including as a member of its CRASH team. Burroughs' knowledge and experience make him very sought after for his expertise. He has been technical adviser on such movies as "187" and "Crack House". Bailiff Mason Burroughs is also well regarded as a celebrity bodyguard. A few of his high profile clients include Paris Hilton, Mel-B, and Usher among others.

By the way, I love Mason's chortle.

Answer: William Bowers

While "Texas Justice" centered around small claims, Larry Joe Doherty's practice focused on legal malpractice. Doherty strongly believed in holding attorney's feet to the fire for misrepresenting their clients. His law firm was in fact a pioneer in the field of legal malpractice.

In 2001 Larry Joe Doherty became the presiding judge on a new television court show called "Texas Justice." Judge Larry Joe may have been a fish out of water in the small claims format accounting for some rulings, but his objective was to teach a lesson. A sort of the, "And everyone goes home happy" lesson. The show was canceled after four and a half seasons in 2005

As a member of the Harris Country Police Department William Bowers was approached by a director while working an extra job and asked if he wanted to be on a new television show. He auditioned and got the job. Bailiff William Bowers became so popular on "Texas Justice" he was assigned police security.

Answer: Judge Karen Mills-Francis

Judge Karen Mills-Francis is the only television judge that I can recall who has stepped out of the obligatory black robe and opted for a burgundy/red one.

In 2000 Karen Mills made the decision to run for a judgeship in Miami-Dade County Florida. The public supported her bid and she won the race. Before that time Karen Mills worked as a public defender, a traffic magistrate, a family court mediator, as well as working in her own private practice.

Judge Mills stepped down from her judgeship in 2008 in order to do her television show "Judge Karen." Judge Karen Mills-Francis is a fierce advocate for those at risk, especially youth.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Chris Gallo became a Court Administration officer in 2003. The position allowed him to refine points of law and procedures by judges, defense and district attorneys. Bailiff Gallo also registered with the New York State Armed Guard and is proficient in weapons training as well as certified in Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing Awareness.

Answer: False

"The People's Court" aired its pilot in 1980 and it began its serial run in September of 1981. Since then the show has had four different Judges and four different bailiffs. The court team of Judge Marilyn Milian and Bailiff Douglas McIntosh began in 2001.

Marilyn Milian attended Harvard Law School as well as Georgetown University Law School. From 1985 to 1994 Milian worked as Florida's Assistant State's Attorney under Janet Reno. Milian later became Miami-Dade County Court Judge in 1994 and a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge in 1999.

Bailiff Douglas McIntosh not only did peacekeeping for Judge Milian's court he also did some work on the soap operas "All My Children", "One Life To Life" and "As The World Turns."

Answer: Judge David Young

Even though Judge David Young describes himself and his Bailiff Tawya Young as an Abbott and Costello team, he is very versed in the law. David Young was a practicing attorney in the Miami area before becoming Country Court Judge and later Circuit Court Judge in Miami-Dade. Judge Young was the presiding judge over the trial of those two America West pilots who came to work intoxicated.

Judge Young's television claim to fame could well be that he was the first openly gay judge. One of Judge Young's well worn lines was, "I'm the only queen in this room".

Bailiff Tawya Young was once a lieutenant in Brooklyn's Small Claims Court system. Bailiff Tawya was the envy of many women for her ever-changing hair styles.

Answer: Joseph Catalano

At the age of 33 Harvard graduate Lynn Toler was elected judge of the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court. Judge Toler hosted "Power of Attorney" in 2001 and has been a strong advocate for women's rights. Aside from helping to create and teach judicial education for other judges, she also created courses on Civil Rights Laws, as well as the law as applied to women. The very accomplished Judge Lynn Toler became host of "Divorce Court" in 2006.


Mablean Ephriam began his law career by working a the Terminal Island Women's Division of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She graduate with a bachelors degree from Pitzer College and later a law degree from Whittier College in 1978.
As a member of the California bar she worked as a deputy city attorney and in 1982 opened her own law firm.
In 1999 Mablean Ephriam, Esq. took on the role of Judge Mablean on "Divorce Court." While not an appointed or elected judge she's filled in for judges in Los Angeles superior and municipal courts. She has also served as hearing examiner for the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission, as well as a court mediator.

Bailiff Joseph Catalano started working on "Divorce Court" in 1999. Joe, as Judges Mablean and Toler call him, served in the United States military as a Marine. upon Catalano's honorable discharge he joined the Yuma Arizona Police Dept; while there he was trained as a SWAT team member and as a Field Training Officer.

After moving to Southern California Catalano joined the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept. When wildfires hit the San Bernardino Mountains in 2003, 2006 and 2007 Joe Catalano was a part of the command staff.

Answer: Renard Spivey

In 2008 Bailiff Renard Spivey played peacekeeper during the defamation litigation of Kehoe vs Dickinson before Judge Cristina Perez. Judge Perez is of Colombian ancestry and was the first female judge to do a national Spanish network series. Her show, "La Corte de Familia" ran on "Telemundo Network". The success of that show got her "Cristina's Court." Judge Perez labeled "The Healing Judge" by her producers won three Daytime Emmys.

Renard Spivey has appeared in the film "Corruption.Gov" among others. Some think Renard looks like actor Michael Clarke Duncan. However, if they look closer they'll see he looks more like Steve Harris from "Diary of a Mad Black Woman".

Answer: Peter Rodriguez

Maria Lopez made history in the state of Massachusetts when she became the first Latina appointed to the bench. However, she didn't stop there. In 1993 Judge Maria Lopez became the first Latina, she is Cuban-American, to serve in the Massachusetts Superior Court.

In September of 2006 small claims court television program "Judge Maria Lopez" debuted. Litigants that came before Judge Lopez often needed tough hides to handle the judge's laser comments. Judge Lopez was quick to tell litigants, "If you can't take the heat, get out of the courtroom." At other times she might have to use, "Take that bone to another dog." No matter what the judge was soundly in control with that deep, truck driver voice. I think though that judges should refrain from lording their authority over litigants with comments such as, "You are one taco short of a combination plate!" The show was cancelled in September of 2008.

The television court room behavior of Judge Maria Lopez's Bailiff Peter Rodriguez hit a raw nerve with some viewers. He's not only been called nasty, but down right rude to litigants. Upon snatching paperwork from one litigant Rodriguez's excuse was, "he was tired of them." Rodriguez who worked behind the scenes of television shows including "Ricki Lake", was also at one time a firefighter.

Answer: Judge Joe Brown / Bailiff Holly Evans

Rick James wasn't the only celebrity to go before the team of Judge Joe Brown and Bailiff Holly Evans. Singer Coolio and the infamous Ike Turner have also been litigants on "Judge Joe Brown". Judge Joe was a sitting judge in Shelby County Tennessee until he resigned in 2001 to do his television show full time.

Judge Brown was the presiding judge when the case against James Earl Ray was reopened. He was later removed for bias. Judge Joe Brown's tagline is, "I'm protecting womanhood, and promoting manhood".

Bailiff Holly "Miss Holly" Evans worked with Judge Joe from conception to 2006. Evans began her career in law enforcement in 1977 working for the city of San Diego, California. In 1978 she had worked her way up through the ranks to become a deputy marshal in the San Diego Police Department in 1981.
In 1978 Holly Evans earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice administration. Evans was there when "Judge Joe Brown" began its run in 1998 until she left in 2006.

Answer: Judge Ed Koch

In 1989 during his fourth run for Mayor of New York City, Ed Koch lost his bid.
Eight years later he stepped into his new job as Judge Ed Koch of "The People's Court."
Koch had been a practicing attorney so the law was no stranger to him. However,
he was also a trained arbitrator. Often between court litigants a case is settled by an arbitrator. Judge Koch presided over "The People's Court" for two years.

Bailiff Josephine Ann Longobardi suddenly found herself in the middle of a
controversy in November of '97. "The People's Court" street reporter and
legal analyst, Harvey Levin made an on-air remark that she was, "Cute and Bailiff-Licious."
Levin was immediately labeled a sexist by fans of Longobardi as well as
the public and some press. Saying he was within his constitutional right of
freedom of speech, Levin refused to apologize. Bailiff Longobardi who had
built her reputation as a dutiful New York Court Officer was suddenly little more than another pretty face in a uniform.