Judge David Young

I don’t think the producers at Sony were quite ready for me. First they told me that the NATPE convention in Las Vegas would be the toughest two days of my life—boy, were they wrong! Then they wanted to coach me on how to “work a room.” Huh? Don’t they remember that I ran for public office in Miami several times? I hit that convention running, Sony executives in my wake, as they watched me cover the floor like nobody’s business.

Then they said that getting ready for launch would be grueling. Again, I said, “Huh?” This isn’t work for me, it’s fun. Sony set up a photo shoot. All I kept thinking was, is this is how Marky Mark got his start? Incidentally, we’ve got the same abs, but you’ll have to take my word for it. I was a little shocked when I saw a huge green screen. Green has never been such a flattering color, but I was assured the green itself would never show—I breathed easier.

The shoot was fun. I loved playing up to the camera. A nice Jewish boy hamming it up. Per usual, I had a lot of energy that day, and the photographers encouraged me to play around. But the real fun came when they asked me to do station IDs. In between takes, I would joke around and do adaptations of different songs for various markets. For example, “Nothing could be finer than to be on TV in North Caroliner,” or changing the words to “New York, New York” to include My9 and my show. I don’t know if they will ever really see airtime, but it was lots of fun while I was doing it.

Next came publicity, when I found myself thrust into the world of real news to be a legal commentator on a Fox cable news program. There’s a first time for everything, so I headed into the studio to give it a whirl—fair, balanced or otherwise. In the makeup room I met a true sports legend, Billie Jean King. Can you imagine the two of us in the green room together at Fox?

When I got on set, it felt so right, so natural. Neil Cavuto, the host of the show, was warm and welcoming. We spoke on air about Paris Hilton, and it was fun to give my opinions about paying for interviews.

Then Neil asked me about my upcoming show. He wanted to know if the cases were real (they are), and he asked me if I ever cried in my courtroom “like that other Florida judge.” I told him my courtroom was known, not for crying, but for hugs—I’ve been doing it for years. I frequently make litigants hug each other after I resolve their disputes. It releases tension and sometimes helps heal the emotions lurking underneath a legal problem.

“So,” I asked Neil, looking a little coy, “would you like a hug?” He was silent for a second and looked a little shocked. I heard the camera and lighting people in the studio start to laugh. I guess no one ever asked the host that question before. To his credit, Neil then responded, “Well, we are on cable, but not that kind of cable.” He wrote me a wonderful thank-you note the next day and invited me back on the show. Nice man.

My family wanted to throw a going away party just before I was leaving to start my new job in the Big Apple, but I really didn't want all the fuss. In the end though, I must confess I was happy they talked me into a having a celebration. The party was held the night before I left for New York to begin taping, and with over 100 people lifting their champagne glasses in my honor, I have to admit I was really touched.

I slept surprisingly well that last night before my "excellent adventure." I still live primarily in Miami and the commute to New York for taping only takes a few hours. The plane ride that first time, though, was a blur. I couldn't wait to tackle all the challenges I was about to face. A new life in a fabulous town—in fact (as Mama Rose belts out in "Gypsy"):

"Everything's Coming Up Roses!"

But then certain details began to creep into my consciousness. During the ride to my new second home, I panicked. What if I didn't like the apartment Sony chose? I breathed deeply, promised to keep an open mind and swore not to respond like a spoiled child. My momentary hysterics were not justified; the neighborhood was wonderful and the apartment was terrific. (O.K., so I did run out and buy fresh sheets and softer towels. But that's O.K. I can be responsible for my own thread count.)

The driver waited for me to put my luggage away and then take me to Sony's offices for a meeting. We were running a bit early, so what would you do? I had him drop me off at Bergdorf Goodman, where they were having a fabulous sale. I broke my own record for getting to a store upon landing in NYC. Sale, after all, is one of my favorite 4-letter words!!

After my meetings on Friday, Sony's publicist asked me if I wanted to be a guest commentator on CNN Headline News. Wow. My first day! That was daunting but exciting. Going into the studio I was a bit nervous, especially when I saw it was just me and a TV screen in the room. I needed some practice to get used to having a conversation on live TV with a box. Still, although I felt awkward at first, when the camera was on, so was I.

They told me to be ready for pampering the next day. Now, I ask you, who wouldn't love a day of beauty and shopping (especially when you don't have to pay for a thing). It was a wonderful day. "I feel pretty....Oh so pretty...and witty...and ...." Did they write that with me in mind?

Sunday was Father's Day and I was a bit out of sorts not being with my father. What I needed was a quick pick-me-up. Nothing does that for me like Broadway. Let's go see a show! I got tickets to "Legally Blonde," which was a fun show. What a perfect way to begin the best week of my life.

When I saw my set for the first time I choked up. It was like when you see the person you knew you would spend the rest of your life with. It felt perfect. I only wish Scott could have shared this moment with me. I knew I would feel like a million bucks when he saw the set firsthand. Plus the fact that he was coming to NY in a few days gave me some solace.

There is a lot of preparation that goes on before I take the bench. I get briefed by my lawyer and then by the producers. Jackie has the difficult job of putting on my make-up and fixing my hair ("I'm pretty, Mama Rose!") and Latoya picks out the outfits for each day of taping. The 3 of us bonded instantly.

I was also excited to be working with a new bailiff, Tawya Young. I call her my TV Wife. How they managed to find a Court Officer with the same last name, I'll never know. We hit it off immediately. She is as irreverent as I am and we both felt the chemistry right away. She is the best.

What a team. What a dream. I am so fortunate.

The hardest part about getting my own show is saying goodbye to my current life. I have been involved in the criminal justice system in Florida for more than 23 years, first as an Assistant State Attorney under Janet Reno, then as a private criminal defense attorney and finally as a Judge, and now I have to say goodbye.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez proclaimed my last day on the bench “Judge David Young Day” to honor my 15 years on the circuit court bench. My parents and family and friends were all invited to a ceremony with the Mayor. As usual, my parents were late. Seriously late. Like 90 minutes late. My father has many fine qualities. Punctuality and a sense of direction are sadly not on the list! The Mayor, a longtime friend, could not have been more gracious, though. We all had a good laugh, and their lateness (and not my award) made for a great story on the evening news.

In court, my last day on the bench was emotional and rewarding. A constant interruption of people kept stopping in to wish me well. The most meaningful well-wishers were the defendants who came in to say “thank you” and tell me they owed their life to me. Many of these people had been written off as life’s failures, but working with the court system they had overcome their problems. It gave me more joy and more of a sense of accomplishment than anything I have ever done.

When I became a Judge in 1993, I wanted to leave the community better than when I found it. I truly feel I have, and this is exactly the impact I want to make with my new show.

Just as I left the building for the last time, the emotion finally got to me and I began to cry. Just then, the cell phone rang. It was my new assistant in New York calling to schedule a hair and wardrobe day in New York! Nothing cheers me up quicker than a day of grooming and shopping on the company’s tab! New York, here I come!

Gray skies are gonna clear up, Put on a happy face! Brush off the clouds and cheer up, Put on a happy face!

I am still pinching myself to make sure this is happening.

My whole world changed when I got a random e-mail from Sony asking me if I would be interested in talking to them about a doing a television show. A million questions raced through my mind! They are kidding, right? Could I really get my own court show? My life partner, Scott Bernstein, is always the voice of reason. He finally got me to snap out of it with a simple question: Why I hadn?t called Sony back already? What did I have to lose?

The next few weeks were a blur of calls, flights, and meetings where I met the fabulous Sony development team. I shot a pilot. The adrenaline was pumping as I walked onto a stage for the first time, but once I took my place on the bench, I felt like I was home. After all, I had been doing this for the past fourteen years in Miami. As a Circuit Court Judge for Miami Dade County, you don't get a second take, and you can never find a hair and make-up artist or a craft services table when you need one. Walking onto the set with the lights, cameras, and crew, I just focused on the case at hand. In the back of my mind, I was hearing the lyrics from GYPSY:

Someone tell me, when is it my turn? Don't I get a dream for myself??? This was my dream! This was my turn.

Being an elected judge, and really being involved in politics my whole life (Scott swears I ran for president of my "Mommy and Me" class), I can pretty much talk to anyone. At NATPE, Sony offered to coach me for the big schmooze, but I just smiled and nodded and thought to myself, "Wait 'til they see what I can do!" My new Sony family didn't truly grasp just how much I enjoy people until I hit the NATPE floor. One of the big shots told me after the conference that he had never seen anyone work a room as well as Donny Osmond, but that I gave Donny a good run for his money. I've always liked that Donny Osmond but that's a story for another time!