‘Hot Bench’ Judges Tell All: Secrets Behind TV’s Juiciest Courtroom Show (Exclusive)

To stay the No. 1 syndicated court show, the Hot Bench judges know that everyone has to keep it real.

“These are real cases filed across the country in real courthouses,” Judge Yodit Tewolde exclusively shared with Us Weekly while celebrating the 2,000th episode of Hot Bench. “It’s so unbelievable these cases that we get that I don’t blame [people] for thinking it’s scripted, but these are real people with these real issues.”

Whether it’s litigants asking the court to resolve their drama surrounding rent, car accidents or even a $5 latte, Tewolde along with Michael Corriero and Rachel Juarez are determined to rule fairly and justly.

“The uniqueness about the show is that it’s just not one judge rendering a verdict,” Corriero explained to Us. “You’re getting to hear why we come to a conclusion and whether we can have a consensus together. …It gives us an opportunity perhaps to educate and test our views with each other and entertain.

As Hot Bench continues to air weekdays — check your local listings online — Us asked the judges to answer some burning questions about the show:

What Are the ‘Hot Bench’ Judges Favorite Cases to Try

Juarez loves when a car accident case approaches her docket. “I like piecing them together,” she said. “I like when the three of us get to put on our detective hats and say, ‘Well, wait a second! Why isn’t there any white paint if he hit you in the back?’ I feel like it’s a way to kind of be a mini detective — but within only 20 minutes.”

While Tewolde doesn’t love a case involving kids who are bullied, Corriero tries to use it as a learning opportunity.

“We can try to remedy the situation,” he explained to Us. “A kid’s bully? We try to deal with that and demonstrate that the person who did the bullying was wrong and why. I like when we have very young people who come in as witnesses for their parents or the elders because it gives us an opportunity to talk to them, to reach them and to show them what a real courtroom is about, what justice is about.”

How Do the Judges Know Litigants Are Lying?

Corriero never likes it when plaintiffs or defendants have “inconsistencies” within their case.

Juarez raises her eyebrows when people start overexplaining their actions. “If you just come out defensively, like, ‘I had dinner at 7 but the reason I had dinner…’” she said. “The minute you start overexplaining and defending, we’re kind of like [hmmm.]”

It’s also important to come prepared with your evidence. “They’re always losing the cell phone with the text message proof,” Tewolde joked. “That is notorious.”

What Do the Judges Wear Below Their Robes?

The cameras showcase the judges in their signature black robes, but some prefer to get a little more casual with their footwear.

“We’re always wearing sneakers because under the robe, why do you care?” Tewolde joked before showcasing her Nikes.

While Juarez sometimes shows up to work in tracksuits, Corriero always comes dressed. “Ever since high school, I had to wear a suit,” he said. “I don’t feel dressed unless I’m in a suit.”

How Many Cases Do the ‘Hot Bench’ Judges Cover Every Day?

According to Juarez, Hot Bench is able to tape two or three days a week. Each day of filming includes six or seven cases.

“We have a lot of time to prepare,” she assured Us. “We really get to dive into each case, dig into the evidence for each case and then by the time that we’re actually there hearing them, we’ve seen almost everything.”

How Long Does It Take for the Judges to Reach Their Verdict? 

While some viewers may assume the Hot Bench judges already know their ruling within minutes of meeting the plaintiff and defendant, Tewolde said it’s not always the case.

“Sometimes it’s fairly obvious,” she told Us. “A lot are not and we just have to wait and see what the litigants testify to and the evidence.”

Juarez added, “We often will read it and think one thing and then the people will present so differently before us. Nothing this person says makes sense or this person is clearly not credible and it completely changes.”