Star Jones Joins ‘Divorce Court’ As Judge

Star Jones, the lawyer, journalist, and television personality, has been appointed judge of the long-running syndicated court show Divorce Court. Beginning in September, Jones will provide judgment for all the cases brought to mediation on the program, ranging from divorce court proceedings to other domestic disputes.

In making the announcement, Stephen Brown, executive vice president of programming and development for Fox First Run and Fox Television Stations, said: “We’ve been very lucky to have had exceptionally talented judges helm Divorce Court. Beginning next season, Star Jones will bring her life experiences, her knowledge as a litigator, and her forceful personality to that storied bench. She aspires to make the show more meaningful, more interactive, and more impactful for the couples and we can’t wait.”

Jones is an attorney, former New York city homicide prosecutor, business executive, best-selling author, National Volunteer for the American Heart Association, and an Emmy-nominated TV host who has worked in media and communications for 30 years. After being elevated to senior assistant district attorney in 1992, she was recruited by Court TV in 1991 as a commentator on the William Kennedy Smith trial, before working as a legal correspondent for NBC’s “Today Show” and NBC’s “Nightly News.” Jones has since appeared on various networks including NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and TruTV, as a network correspondent, host, commentator, or advocate. She was one of the original co-hosts of ABC’s “The View” for nine years and is a “Broadcasting and Cable” Hall of Fame inductee.

A graduate of American University, Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in the administration of justice. She then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston’s School of Law.

She said: “Before I was the legal correspondent for NBC News covering high-profile trials and conducting exclusive jailhouse interviews, I spent six years in a Brooklyn courtroom as a NYC homicide prosecutor and assistant district attorney. Since the beginning of my TV career, it’s been my mission to serve as a voice for the voiceless; and after more than 30 consecutive years on television and in people’s homes, that remains true.

“As a fan of television’s longest-running court show, I was honored to be considered to take over the Divorce Court TV bench, following in the footsteps of three incredible women, Judge Mablean Ephriam, Judge Lynn Toler and Judge Faith Jenkins.”

Divorce Court currently airs in 205 markets, covering 98% of the country across various station groups including Fox, CBS, Sinclair, Gray, Nexstar, Tegna, Scripps, Cox and the CW Plus.

Divorce Court is produced by Lincolnwood Productions, distributed by Fox First Run, and Sonja Solomun is executive in charge.