Judge Marilyn Milian from The People’s Court and Judge Alex Ferrer of Judge Alex joined FOLCS for a Conversation about the phenomenon of daytime TV courtrooms: how they affect our culture, why they have grown so popular, and what they say about those who submit to and are transfixed by these TV judgments.
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Marilyn Milian
Judge
In addition to presiding over The People’s Court as the first Latina judge to host a nationally syndicated television court show, Milian enjoyed major media exposure including a recent feature in The New York Times in the Arts & Leisure Section. Judge Milian has appeared on many talk and television news programs including Today, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tony Danza Show, FOX News Channel’s At Large with Geraldo Rivera, Court TV’s Catherine Crier Live, CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and Extra. Milian is a sought-after interview subject and has been profiled in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post, New York Daily News, The Miami Herald, People, People en Espanol, Entertainment Weekly, Vibe, Vanidades, Florida International Magazine, and Glamour, among others.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed Milian to the Miami Circuit Court in 1999, where she served in the Criminal Division. Prior to that, she spent five years in the Miami County Court in the Domestic Violence Court and Criminal and Civil divisions. She was appointed to the County Court by then-Governor Lawton Chiles. Before serving in the County Court, Milian worked from 1984 to 1994 as an Assistant State Attorney for the Dade County State Attorney’s Office, personally appointed by Janet Reno.
Alex Ferrer
Judge
Former police officer, attorney and Florida Circuit Court Judge Alex E. Ferrer hosts “Judge Alex,” daytime’s number-one new first-run strip for the 2005-06 season from Twentieth Television. Judge Alex is the only television judge with extensive police, legal and judicial experience, presiding over a wide array of cases, resolving complicated issues with his straightforward approach and cogent rulings.
Judge Alex served as the Associate Administrative Judge of the Criminal Division of Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which services Miami–Dade County, the largest trial court in the state and fourth largest in the United States.