Judge Karen’s Court, the new, hit syndicated series featuring Judge Karen Mills-Francis, known for her feisty, full-of-life personality and passionate advocacy for families and children, joins the TV One schedule beginning Monday, October 4, with back-to-back episodes at 6 and 6:30 PM ET airing each weeknight. Judge Karen, “the most colorful judge on television”* is known for her trademark burgundy robes and blonde hair, along with her razor-sharp wit and compassionate heart.
Shot at Los Angeles Center Studios with Executive Producer Rich Goldman at the helm, Judge Karen’s Court allows viewers to experience justice Judge Karen-style. Litigants can cross-examine witnesses just as they do in courtrooms across America. And moments before Her Honor’s verdict is delivered, the gallery gets to vote on the outcome with special handheld voting devices. With charm, humor, and super-sharp cross-examination skills, Judge Karen digs deep for the truth. But her real talent is her ability to see into the hearts of the people who come before her, knowing that many times the issues in the case mask deeper emotional conflicts and broken relationships.
Judge Karen’s Court on TV One will be followed immediately by the award-winning family drama, Lincoln Heights, from 7-8 PM. Encore airings of Judge Karen’s Court are scheduled for weekdays at 6 and 6:30 AM (all times ET).
TV One acquired the rights to the series from Litton Entertainment.
In addition to hosting Judge Karen’s Court, Judge Karen Mills-Francis has written a recently released book, Stay in Your Lane: Judge Karen’s Guide to Living Your Best Life, in which the judge draws from personal experience and her courtroom cases to deliver no-nonsense advice designed to push the reader in a positive direction — socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Born and raised in Miami, Judge Karen completed her undergraduate education at Bowdoin College in Maine on a full scholarship. After graduation, she worked in the public welfare sector, training and helping welfare recipients gain employment. She graduated from the Levin School of Law at the University of Florida in 1987.
Judge Karen practiced criminal defense law in Miami for 13 years in the Office of the Public Defender, as well as in private practice. She was appointed a Traffic Magistrate by the chief judge of the county in 1998 to hear non-criminal traffic cases. She also became a certified family court mediator. Driven by the lack of diversity in the court system, Judge Karen decided to run for a judgeship in 2000, winning her first election by overthrowing a longtime incumbent and becoming the second black woman to serve on the bench in Miami-Dade County.
After twice being elected as a county court judge, Judge Karen made it her mission to support those at risk of becoming lost in the legal system. Her mission has always been to empower women and provide direction and inspiration to children. Inspired by her previous work at the public defender’s office in the juvenile division, she has become known as an ardent backer of children’s advocacy and domestic violence prevention programs, regularly calling on lawyers to act on behalf of children in crisis.
She became a foster mother to a child she first encountered in court and over the years has repeatedly opened her home to children in need. Judge Karen is an avid child advocate who profiles missing children on her Facebook page. She lectures around the country on family issues, especially on the concerns of women and children.
Launched in January 2004, TV One (www.tvoneonline.com) serves 50.3 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies, and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult African American viewers. TV One’s investors include Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com], the largest radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; Comcast Corporation [NASDAQ: CMCSA and CMCSK; www.comcast.com], the leading cable television company in the country; The DirecTV Group; Constellation Ventures; Syndicated Communications; and Opportunity Capital Partners.
(Source: TV One)
