Divorce Court is the very first courtroom-based television program. The court show centers around cases which only involve divorcing couples. The venerable series has lived three lives in syndication. The earliest version ran from 1957 to 1969, with Judge Voltaire Perkins presiding and Colin Male as the courtroom announcer. A second version debuted in the spring of 1985, with Judge William B. Keene deciding cases and Jim Peck as the courtroom reporter and announcer; this version ran six seasons. Judge Keene was the presiding judge at the murder trial of Charles Manson. The current version began in 1999, featuring Judge Mablean Ephriam from 1999 to 2006, and Judge Lynn Toler beginning in September 2006. A courtroom is the actual enclosed space in which a judge regularly holds court. ... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ... In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast programs to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... This article is about the year. ... Jim Peck is an American game show host, but is also known as the whispering reporter on Judge Wapners version of The Peoples Court. ... Charles Milles Manson (born November 12, 1934) is a convict who led the Manson Family, a commune or cult that he started in the U.S. city of San Francisco in 1967. ... This article is about the year. ... Mablean Ephriam is the current judge on the television program Divorce Court. ... Lynn Toler (born in Columbus, Ohio) is the judge of the television series Divorce Court, replacing Mablean Ephriam on September 11, 2006. ...

Format

1957-69 and 1985-92 versions

While touted as presenting real cases to television audiences, the stories from earlier versions of Divorce Court were fictional (although they were based on real cases).

Actors portrayed the litigants - the plaintiff, who initiated the divorce proceedings; the defendant, who either sought a reconciliation or sought a divorce decree of his/her own; and a number of witnesses, who testified on one of the litigants' behalves. Meanwhile student attorneys would argue the cases. Categories: Move to Wiktionary | Law stubs | Legal terms ... A plaintiff, also known as a claimant or complainer, is the party who initiates a lawsuit (also known as an action) before a court. ... A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute. ... A monument to reconciliation in Ottawa. ... This article is about witnesses in law courts. ... An attorney is someone who represents someone else in the transaction of business: For attorney-at-law, see lawyer, solicitor, barrister or civil law notary. ...

Each episode followed a basic formula, as follows:

• Each attorney giving opening doggment.

• The litigants, along with one or two supporting witnesses, giving their side of the story and enduring cross examination.

• Closing arguments.

• The judge's decision, followed by appropriate reactions by each side.

Many of the stories had standard marital issues: mental and/or physical abuse, adultery, desertion and other irreconcilable differences. As with most courtroom-based television programs through the ages (and to keep audiences interested), the stories were hardly the sort of the unloved wife's affair with the milkman or the husband's meddlesome mother interfering with and ultimately ruining the marriage. Rather, Divorce Court tended to present more sensational cases with "shock value." Some examples include: See Structure of policy debate for cross-examination in policy debate. ... Abuser redirects here. ... This article is about the act of adultery. ... For other uses of Desertion, see Abandonment. ... Irreconcilable differences are one possible grounds for a divorce in the United States; often they are used as justification for a no-fault divorce. ... A milk truck A milkman is a person who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

• A father who deliberately involved his children in "accidents" so he could collect on the insurance. He would pay them off by offering them presents and other rewards.
• The woman who hosted male-stripper parties overnight while her husband was "working late" and suspected of having an affair of his own.
• A couple who hosted a family-oriented television talk show which, through the husband's efforts, eventually degenerates into a sleazy, Jerry Springer-type show.

Sometimes, the judge would interview minor children involved in cases where child custody was an issue. A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... This article is about Jerry Springer himself. ... Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are sometimes used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parents duty to care for the child. ...

Divorce Court was one of the first television programs to explore serious issues, including racism, alcohol and drug abuse, war, cancer, grief, pornography, gambling and incest, to name a few. Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... This article needs cleanup. ... Comparison of the perceived harm for various psychoactive drugs from a poll among medical psychiatrists specialized in addiction treatment[1] This article is an overview of the nontherapeutic use of alcohol and drugs of abuse. ... For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... It has been suggested that Anticipatory Grief be merged into this article or section. ... Porn redirects here. ... Caravaggio, The Cardsharps, c. ... Incest is defined as sexual intercourse between closely related persons. ...

During the latter seasons of the 1985-92 version, some divorce proceedings were played out over multiple shows, as though it were a major criminal trial. Some litigants spent a majority of a show on the witness stand (rather than the usual five-minutes of testimony and one-minute cross-examination). The court reporters sometimes interviewed the litigants prior to each show. On some episodes, one or both of the attorneys would be portrayed by actors and become part of the show's plot (for example, one 1992 episode had a subplot where a litigant was sleeping with her attorney).

Occasionally, higher-profile cases would involve celebrities portraying themselves, for example Charles Nelson Reilly starred as himself in a 1989 episode. Charles Nelson Reilly (January 13, 1931–May 25, 2007) was an American actor, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in movies, childrens television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game. ...

Current version (1999-present)

The current version of Divorce Court is markedly different from its predecessors.

For instance, real couples - who had previously filed for divorce - argue their cases before the court; one to two cases were presented each day. Most cases involved betrayal, infidelity and trust-related issues. Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ...

After both sides had presented their arguments, Judge Mablean Ephriam presented her findings. Her decision includes finding in favor of one of the litigants (or, more often than not, declaring a joint decree); and resolving issues such as alimony and asset division. Ephriam’s decisions are legally binding. As such, the modern version of "Divorce Court" is essentially a form of arbitration. Mablean Ephriam is the current judge on the television program Divorce Court. ... Alimony, maintenance or spousal support is an obligation established by law in many countries that is based on the premise that both spouses have an absolute obligation to support each other during the marriage (or civil union) unless they are legally separated. ...

In some instances the judge may withhold a decision to give the couple ample time to consider a reconciliation. Occasionally the show may revisit an episode where time to explore reconciliation was offered to determine if the delay remedied or worsened the marriage.

In 2006, the show was renewed for an eighth season; however, Ephriam and Twentieth Television were unable to come to terms on a contract extension. During her many years presiding over Divorce Court, Mablean Ephraim was very humorous, mainly because of her noticeably quirky voice and shocked reactions to the litigant's outrageous behavior. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Lynn Toler, a former judge in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and judge of Power of Attorney in the series' last half season, took over the bench for the eighth season of Divorce Court, which premiered September 11, 2006. [1] Lynn Toler (born in Columbus, Ohio) is the judge of the television series Divorce Court, replacing Mablean Ephriam on September 11, 2006. ... Cleveland Heights is a city located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. ... Power of Attorney was an American syndicated TV judge show that differed from other judge shows in that each side was represented by prominent attorneys who cross-examined witnesses. ... is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

It was announced in November of 2006, that Divorce Court was re-newed for a ninth season (2007-2008) starring Judge Lynn Toler. The ratings for the following season (2006-2007), when Lynn Toler replaced Mablean Ephriam, dropped 20%. [2] Mablean Ephriam is the current judge on the television program Divorce Court. ...

Laura Gelles took over as Executive Producer in 2003, with Alex Williamson appointed co-EP.

John Carlo Zenone and Patricia Wilson serve at the series Senior Producers. While Gina Michelle Madrid is the Coordinating Producer; with Holley Heitz and Will Richards serving as Producers. While Wendy Saitjin serves as booking producer.

Associate producers are: Seon Park, Corey D'Markus, Chrystal Ransom, Megan Reeves and Sybil Curry.

Jeannine Sullivan is the Exec. in Charge of Production.

The bailiff in this current version is Sgt. Joseph Catelano, a 28-year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department(California);his son, Joe, Jr.(also a deputy w/ that agency) was assigned to the Barstow regional station, but since the series was gaining popularity, he was re-assigned to an undisclosed location for his safety. Barstow is a city located in San Bernardino County, California. ...

External links

• Divorce Court Official Website
• Divorce Court at the Internet Movie Database
• Obtain free tickets for the live TV taping of Divorce Court in Los Angeles