# 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.

## 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 | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons |
| Personnel | Role | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Tanya Acker | Judge, co-host | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | | | | |
| Larry Bakman | Judge, co-host | Main | Main | | | | | | | | | | |
| Patricia DiMango | Judge, co-host | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | | | | |
| Michael Corriero | Judge, co-host | | | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main |
| Rachel Juarez | Judge, co-host | | | | | | | | | Main | Main | Main | Main |
| Yodit Tewolde | Judge, co-host | | | | | | | | | Main | Main | Main | Main |
| Sonia Montejano | Bailiff | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | 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'."
On April 26, 2024, Hot Bench has been renewed for its eleventh and twelfth seasons through 2025–26 season.

### 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.
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.
In the fall of 2022, DiMango and Acker were replaced on the show by Juarez and Tewolde, while Corriero assumed the chief judge position.
In the winter of 2024, Michael Corriero announced that he would retire after 9 years on the show. Juarez and Tewalde are expected to return in Season 12. A new judge is yet to be announced.
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. 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 | Category | Nominee(s) / Work | Result |
| 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 |
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 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 |
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 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 |