Divorce Court

Divorce Court is a courtroom-based television program presenting stories of 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.

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.

Each episode followed a basic formula, as follows:

• The announcer giving a basic summary of the story to follow, such as the names of the litigants, how long the couple had been married, the grounds for divorce, and issues the couple wanted resolved (such as child custody and asset division).

• Each attorney giving opening statements.

• 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:

• 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 were child custody was an issue.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]

It was announced in November of 2006, that Divorce Court was re-newed for a ninth season (2007-2008) starring Judge Lynn Toler. And in the spring of '07, it was announced the show was renewed through season 10 (2008-2009).

In the fall of 2007, Judge Toler began starring on the primetime show, "Decision House." A show centered around couples in crises. The show airs Wednesdays at 8PM on MyNetwork.

Jill Blackstone served as Executive Producer for the series first 4 seasons, then Laura Gelles took over as EP until then end of season 9. Alex Williamson serves as co-EP.

John Carlo Zenone and Patricia Wilson serve at the series Senior Producers. While Diondra Bolling, Sandra Allen and Will Richards serve as Producers. Wendy Saitjin serves as booking producer.

Associate producers are: Chrystal Ransom and Sybil Curry.

Jeannine Sullivan is the Exec. in Charge of Production.

External links

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