“Hot Bench” returned for its ninth season in October with latest judges Rachel Juarez and Yodite Tewolde joining veteran jurist Michael Corriero, who’s been with “HB” since 2016.
The daytime court show, created by Judith “Judge Judy” Sheindlin, continues to attract solid viewership, averaging nearly 2 million day by day viewers — tops in its genre amongst shows currently in production (“Judge Judy” ended its run of original episodes in 2021).
Juarez and Tewolde, who replaced Patricia DiMango and Tanya Acker, arrived with solid bona fides; Suarez as a veteran litigator and Tewolde as a criminal defense attorney and legal analyst.
Juarez and Tewolde and Corriero answered a couple of questions for The Post.
What do you bring to your role as a judge on “Hot Bench?”
Juarez: I used to be most drawn to the tutorial aspect of the show and the platform it gives us to impart some legal knowledge with every case. It’s also vital for everybody to know that “following the law” doesn’t at all times produce the result that may feel probably the most fair or satisfying. It’s my hope to try to introduce into our deliberations and verdicts a bit little bit of the “why” behind the law, in order that our viewers will find a way to more fully engage with the behind-the-scenes look they’re moving into the legal system.
Tewolde: My time as a prosecutor working with pro-se defendants [representing themselves], and experience as a defense attorney, allows me to bring an unexpected level of patience to the bench that the majority [people] aren’t used to when watching court shows. But, more importantly, my time on each side of the aisle allows me to bring empathy to the bench. My experience working as a broadcast journalist covering trials can be helpful.
Is there one case that’s resonated for you this season?
Juarez: We had a case earlier within the season involving a daycare owner who hired a van driver to move numerous pre-school children to and from daycare. The motive force was in an accident (fortunately while no children were within the van); nonetheless, we learned from testimony that his wife had encourage him to take the driving job to get out of the home — and to provide him a vehicle to drive because he was such a nasty driver that she wouldn’t let him drive her automobile. A few of the litigants (and our wonderful audience) found it “sweet” and “funny” that his wife advisable him for a driving job … I discovered it horrifying.
Tewolde: Although we seem among the same issues come up, the litigants are so very different and make lasting impressions (each good and bad), so many cases resonate. Those that actually stand out, nonetheless, are those where we may also help people heal in a roundabout way, particularly in cases involving feuding members of the family.
How do you prepare for every case with a lot ground to cover?
Juarez: It’s so vital to keep in mind that these are real cases, and real litigants, who’re entrusting us with adjudicating their real legal cases. For every case, I rigorously read each the grievance and the reply and closely review any evidence that the litigants provide before coming to court. As well as, many cases require us to research and review specific laws or legal principles from different jurisdictions.
Tewolde: Quite a lot of reading, researching, and pondering. We have now the most effective research teams they usually’re meticulous with the extent of detail and background they supply to make use of for every case. While we’re on television, NONE of those cases are scripted. This job requires a number of diligence, thought and time.
Michael, how much of an adjustment was it to work with Yodit and Rachel?
Corriero: It wasn’t much of an adjustment … I loved my time with Tanya and Patricia, but relaunching the show with Yodit and Rachel has given us a possibility to draw an excellent wider audience. We’re the identical show that our viewers have come to know and love, however the addition of Yodit and Rachel brings an exciting latest energy, and a fresh latest dynamic and perspective. It feels very natural to be sitting on the bench alongside them, which I feel is reflected in our on-screen chemistry.
“Hot Bench” airs weekdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on WLNY/Ch. 55.
“Hot Bench” returned for its ninth season in October with latest judges Rachel Juarez and Yodite Tewolde joining veteran jurist Michael Corriero, who’s been with “HB” since 2016.
The daytime court show, created by Judith “Judge Judy” Sheindlin, continues to attract solid viewership, averaging nearly 2 million day by day viewers — tops in its genre amongst shows currently in production (“Judge Judy” ended its run of original episodes in 2021).
Juarez and Tewolde, who replaced Patricia DiMango and Tanya Acker, arrived with solid bona fides; Suarez as a veteran litigator and Tewolde as a criminal defense attorney and legal analyst.
Juarez and Tewolde and Corriero answered a couple of questions for The Post.
What do you bring to your role as a judge on “Hot Bench?”
Juarez: I used to be most drawn to the tutorial aspect of the show and the platform it gives us to impart some legal knowledge with every case. It’s also vital for everybody to know that “following the law” doesn’t at all times produce the result that may feel probably the most fair or satisfying. It’s my hope to try to introduce into our deliberations and verdicts a bit little bit of the “why” behind the law, in order that our viewers will find a way to more fully engage with the behind-the-scenes look they’re moving into the legal system.
Tewolde: My time as a prosecutor working with pro-se defendants [representing themselves], and experience as a defense attorney, allows me to bring an unexpected level of patience to the bench that the majority [people] aren’t used to when watching court shows. But, more importantly, my time on each side of the aisle allows me to bring empathy to the bench. My experience working as a broadcast journalist covering trials can be helpful.
Is there one case that’s resonated for you this season?
Juarez: We had a case earlier within the season involving a daycare owner who hired a van driver to move numerous pre-school children to and from daycare. The motive force was in an accident (fortunately while no children were within the van); nonetheless, we learned from testimony that his wife had encourage him to take the driving job to get out of the home — and to provide him a vehicle to drive because he was such a nasty driver that she wouldn’t let him drive her automobile. A few of the litigants (and our wonderful audience) found it “sweet” and “funny” that his wife advisable him for a driving job … I discovered it horrifying.
Tewolde: Although we seem among the same issues come up, the litigants are so very different and make lasting impressions (each good and bad), so many cases resonate. Those that actually stand out, nonetheless, are those where we may also help people heal in a roundabout way, particularly in cases involving feuding members of the family.
How do you prepare for every case with a lot ground to cover?
Juarez: It’s so vital to keep in mind that these are real cases, and real litigants, who’re entrusting us with adjudicating their real legal cases. For every case, I rigorously read each the grievance and the reply and closely review any evidence that the litigants provide before coming to court. As well as, many cases require us to research and review specific laws or legal principles from different jurisdictions.
Tewolde: Quite a lot of reading, researching, and pondering. We have now the most effective research teams they usually’re meticulous with the extent of detail and background they supply to make use of for every case. While we’re on television, NONE of those cases are scripted. This job requires a number of diligence, thought and time.
Michael, how much of an adjustment was it to work with Yodit and Rachel?
Corriero: It wasn’t much of an adjustment … I loved my time with Tanya and Patricia, but relaunching the show with Yodit and Rachel has given us a possibility to draw an excellent wider audience. We’re the identical show that our viewers have come to know and love, however the addition of Yodit and Rachel brings an exciting latest energy, and a fresh latest dynamic and perspective. It feels very natural to be sitting on the bench alongside them, which I feel is reflected in our on-screen chemistry.
“Hot Bench” airs weekdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on WLNY/Ch. 55.
