Star Jones will be returning to daytime television this summer and replacing Judge Faith Jenkins as the new host and judge of “Divorce Court.”
It has been a short stint for Jenkins, who replaced Judge Lynn Toler in 2020. Her episodes will continue to run until September.
“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,” Jones said in a statement. “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.”
Jones continued, “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” began in 1999 with Judge Mablean Ephriam. Toler then replaced Ephriam over in 2006 for 14 seasons.
“I will offer the parties before Divorce Court, as well as viewers, a no-nonsense approach to the law and a decision driven by my proven legal expertise, compassion and empathy, personal experiences and hard-earned common sense.”
In 1994, Jones made history when she became the first Black person and female to serve as a TV arbitrator. Sadly her show, “Jones & Jury,” was canceled after just one year.
Before making a splash on television, Jones served as an attorney and New York City homicide prosecutor. She then joined Court TV channel in 1991 as a commentator and was part of the original panel on “The View” from 1997 to 2006.
“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,” Stephen Brown, Executive Vice President of Programming and Development for Fox First Run and Fox Television Stations, said in a statement. “She aspires to make the show more meaningful, more interactive, and more impactful for the couples and we can’t wait.”
