Judge Joe Brown is the non-traditional, no-nonsense, no-holds-barred presiding judge of his signature series, the daily, half-hour, syndicated, reality courtroom show JUDGE JOE BROWN, which enters it's tenth season in September of 2007.
From 1990 until April 2000, Judge Brown served as a judge of the Shelby County Criminal Courts in Memphis, Tennessee, where he introduced a new way of sentencing first time, non-violent offenders with riveting results.His unusual methods of administering justice stemmed from his childhood.Born in Washington, D.C., he relocated to South Central Los Angeles as a young boy.The only child of hard-working teachers, Brown formed his tough-love philosophy early on.
"I grew up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles," he says."if you saw the movie, 'Boyz 'n the Hood,' that was the way I grew up.I watched my parents tough it out on a daily basis, and I saw that what really kept them going was making a difference to others," he states."that's why today, 'making a difference to others' is everything I'm about."
While nearly everyone in his neighborhood fell victim to the harsh realities and circumstances of living in an inner city, Brown chose education instead.His family later moved to the Crenshaw area where he graduated from Dorsey High School at the top of his class.He went on to major in political science at UCLA, paying for his tuition by loading trucks and digging ditches.When a friend suggested he try law school, Brown became intrigued by the possibility of pursuing a legal career.
It turned out to be a perfect fit.Brown was a brilliant student and earned his law degree from UCLA while working as a substitute teacher.Upon graduation he moved to Tennessee in 1973 to take a position with Legal Services and then with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.).Within five years, Judge Brown became the first African-American prosecutor for the City of Memphis and then director of the City of Memphis Public Defender's Office.In 1978, he launched his own private practice.He returned to public service in 1990 where, recognized for his sincerity, passion and justice, he was soon elected Judge of Division 9 of the State Criminal Courts for Shelby County.
Judge Brown was already known for his creative alternative sentencing.In fact, it's what thrust him into the national spotlight.His national recognition was further intensified after he was assigned to reopen the case of the late James Earl Ray, convicted assassin of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.Today, he often spends his weekends in the toughest parts of Memphis, following up on cases and helping kids and teens stay out of trouble and steer clear of activities that could put them in jail -or a coffin.
"I listen to young people talk about what's happening in their world, and I tell them about how I survived in South Central."Judge Brown says."Because I overcame the street life and got a good education, they tend to listen to me more than most adults, and I think I give them hope.My goal is to encourage them to be productive members of society, instead of potential inmates who waste their young lives away."
Judge Brown sees his work on television as the "best way possible" to spread the word and make a difference, just like his parents did while he was growing up.To commemorate his work with inner-city youth, Judge Brown was honored at the Kennedy Center with the Olender Foundation's Advocate for Justice Award.In 1999, he was inducted as an honorary member into Phi Alpha Delta, the world's pre-eminent law fraternity, in recognition of his distinguishedservice as a jurist and community leader, and his successful effort to demonstrate the law to millions of Americans via JUDGE JOE BROWN.
"It's simple, he says."People should be kind, caring and humane.When they are not, it's my job to try and turn them around."
Judge Joe Brown has been featured in many high profile television shows such as "Entertainment Tonight,"Black Entertainment Television's "How I'm Living," Court TV's "Catherine Cryer Live," and CNN's "Crossfire," to name a few.He has also been the focus of numerous print stories that have appeared in widely read publications such as Ebony Magazine, Jet, People, Vibe, USA Today, and The New York Post, among others.
The father of two sons, Judge Joe Brown currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Deborah Herron Brown, whom he married in December 2001.When he's not presiding in the courtroom, he enjoys pursuing his hobbies of scuba diving, horseback riding, skiing and swimming with sharks (literally!).
JUDGE JOE BROWN is a Big Ticket Television production and is distributed by CBS Television Distribution. Big Ticket is a Paramount/Viacom company. John Terenzio is executive producer. Lou Dennig is senior supervising producer.