Hot Bench

Hot Bench
GenreNontraditional arbitration-based reality court show
Created byJudge Judy Sheindlin
Directed by
  • Karen J. Beck
  • Randi Clarke Lennon
Presented bySonia Montejano
Gina Findley
Judges
  • Tanya Acker
  • Larry Bakman
  • Patricia DiMango
  • Michael Corriero
  • Rachel Juarez
  • Yodit Tewolde
  • Daniel Mentzer
Narrated by
Theme music composerMichael Egizi
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons12
No. of episodes2,000
Production
Executive producers
  • Randy Douthit (2014–18)
  • Maureen Fitzpatrick (2014–18)
  • David Theodosopoulus (2018–present)
Production locationsStamford Studios
Stamford, Connecticut
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseSeptember 15, 2014 (2014-09-15) –
present
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Hot Bench is an American nontraditional panel-based court show that debuted in first-run syndication on September 15, 2014. The series was conceptualized and produced for CBS Media Ventures by Judith Sheindlin of Judge Judy fame, alongside executive producers Randy Douthit, Maureen FitzPatrick, David Theodosopoulos, and co-executive producer James Glover.

As of the show's twelfth season, which premiered in September 2025, Hot Bench is presided over by Rachel Juarez, a former prosecutor originally from Los Angeles; Yodit Tewolde, a municipal judge and criminal defense attorney from Dallas; and Daniel Mentzer, a California native who rose to prominence as a criminal defense attorney in New York. Gina Findley, a former New York Police Department detective, is the bailiff.

Hot Bench emanates from Stamford Studios in Stamford, Connecticut; production relocated there from Sunset Bronson Studios in Los Angeles after the 2024–2025 season.