“You listen here,” Toler said, her eyes flashing. “You said your wedding was ruined, but the only way your wedding could truly be ruined is if your man don’t show.”
The audience tittered. The plaintiff’s attorney looked as if he wanted to object.
In a softer voice, Toler told the woman that she’d get some money back, but not the whole cost. Too many people expect perfection, she said.
With that, the judge banged her gavel and headed to her private dressing room on the Fox lot.
It’s been five years since Toler, the star of the short-lived court-TV show Power of Attorney, saw screen time. But this fall, the former Cleveland Heights judge will return to TV as the leading lady on Fox’s Divorce Court.
Toler’s transition from municipal court judge to TV star still surprises her. Like most big events in her life, it happened by accident.
In 1993, the Harvard graduate was a fiery young litigator when the chairman of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party suggested that she run for Cleveland Heights Municipal Court.
Toler thought her odds were slim. Cleveland Heights is a Democratic stronghold, and her opponent was Russell Baron, a distinguished lawyer who’d practiced in the city for 14 years longer than Toler had been alive.
“If I hadn’t run against him, I would have voted for him myself,” Toler quips.
But Toler did bring some ammo: She was the only African American candidate in a largely black district and had a large war chest, thanks to her wealthy father.
On election day, Toler won by just six votes out of the more than 16,000 cast.
She quickly distinguished herself with her creative sentencing. During seven years on the bench, she offered shorter jail terms for convicts who wrote book reports and made obeying their mothers a condition of probation.
Local TV ate it up. In 1998, Channel 19 aired a special on Toler, following her from the courtroom to her living room. When she showed off her tae kwon do skills by splintering wood with her bare hands, it was clear she was made for the limelight.
Her big break came two years later. The producers of Power of Attorney, a new legal show on Fox, were in need of a judge. They canvassed the country for candidates. Naturally, Channel 19 suggested Toler.
Producers didn’t tell Toler what show she was auditioning for, so when they asked her opinion of courtroom shows, she put her foot in her mouth. “I love all of them except Power of Attorney,” she said.
Despite the faux pas, producers hired her.
“We tested three people, and my opinion was, we shouldn’t even test the other two,” says producer Laura Gelles.
Toler got her first taste of stardom when she met her co-stars, O.J. Simpson prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden. Toler and Clark became fast friends. “She’s the nicest person ever,” Toler gushes. But Darden was another story. “Chris is a little mercurial. One moment he can be sweet as a pie, and the next he’ll hardly speak to you. I never quite figured him out.”
The cases Toler presided over were like The People’s Court crossed with Jerry Springer. One mother sued because her daughter refused to pay for haircuts. Another mom refused to house her pregnant daughter unless she dumped her slacker boyfriend.
Toler’s verdicts were homespun wisdom dispensed with a cut-the-bull edge. She was as likely to cite her mother’s advice as she was a precedent-setting decision — ironic, in light of the fact that her mother thought the show was trashy.
“She didn’t understand how her Harvard-educated daughter could do this to her,” Toler recounts. “She had visions of me on the Supreme Court.”
In 2001, the show was canceled. But TV judges are a lot like Supreme Court justices: Once appointed, they serve for life. For the next five years, Toler made as much as $60,000 annually, just by auditioning for shows.
“There’s so few judges willing to do television work that the ones who do are really valuable,” explains Michael Cicconetti, president of the American Judges Association.
Toler’s next offer came in April, when Fox’s negotiations with Divorce Court judge Mablean Ephriam stalled.
The sticking point was hair. In 2005, Ephriam wore a wig on the show, the consequence of a bad relaxant. Fox liked the look so much that it asked her to keep it. But Ephriam wanted cornrows. When Fox said no, Ephriam cried racism. Fox, in turn, declined to renew her contract.
When Toler got the nod as Ephriam’s replacement, internet message boards lit up with accusations that she was an Uncle Tom.
“Just because you were replaced by another ‘black’ person doesn’t mean it wasn’t racial,” one viewer wrote. “It simply means they found someone who was willing to abide by their rules. They found . . . a Condoleezza.”
While Toler denies the charge, she seems eager not to fan the furor. “I don’t know what experiences Mablean had,” she says, choosing her words carefully, “but I know that Fox has been nothing but flexible with my hair.”
This season, Toler has a full docket that includes a husband who deserted his eight-months-pregnant wife to audition for American Idol, a couple fighting over their 15-year-old daughter’s pregnancy, and several military wives who left husbands stationed overseas.
Although the shows won’t begin airing till September, Toler’s already viewed as a national expert on parlaying local judgeships into Hollywood stardom. The American Judges Association has invited her to speak about transitioning from the bench to TV.
But for Toler, the biggest change may be to her grocery routine. When Power of Attorney was airing, fans would stop her in the supermarket to ask for autographs or argue over rulings. It would take two hours just to buy a loaf of bread.
“Once the show airs, I guess I’ll have to start getting up at the crack of dawn again,” she says with a smile. “Not that I’m complaining.”
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2006.
I love Judge Toler, she’s the best. Divorce Court will be just fine. I liked Judge Mabelean, but she’s gone and that’s water under the bridge. Judge Toler will take this show in a whole new direction, in a positive light, and the other viewers will adjust. Judge Toler will bring the charisma, energy, heart warming touches, to this show that none other has done and still have fun. Fox couldn’t have chosen a better candidate.
Thanks,
Mrs. Ravis Brown
I love Judge Toler, she’s the best. Divorce Court will be just fine. I liked Judge Mabelean, but she’s gone and that’s water under the bridge. Judge Toler will take this show in a whole new direction, in a positive light, and the other viewers will adjust. Judge Toler will bring the charisma, energy, heart warming touches, to this show that none other has done and still have fun. Fox couldn’t have chosen a better candidate.
Thanks,
Mrs. Ravis Brown
I would like some tickets to be on your show.
I would like some tickets to be on your show.
I absolutely love Judge Lynn Toler!!! She has single handedly taken the show in a completely different direction. Not only is she extremely intelligent, articulate, and knowlegeable, but her no-nonsense attitude on the bench, and her caring persona separates her from the rest. I just purchased her book and I can’t wait to read it. My favorite part of the show is the end when she gives the plaintiff and defendant her words of wisdom. We could all learn a thing or two from the judge. I love it when she bursts through the back door of her chambers to deliver a final whipping to those who need it as they continue to battle each other in the hallway at the end of their case. I think that may very well become her trademark. I think Judge Toler will be an enormous success. She is very relatable and personable, you can see your mom, you sister, your aunts, and your girlfriends in Judge Toler. She is down to earth and real!!! I pray God’s blessings over her life and her career. Thank God for Digital Video Recorders, I know I have mine set to record every episode of Divorce Court. Thank you Judge Toler and thank you to the producers of the show. You picked a real winner!!!!
Hi I just want to say that I love the show and it was a shock to see that there was a African American Judge with the same last name. I just want to see if theres any way that maybe her Husband could be in my family because its not that many Tolers out there. I’m not stalker, I’m just a Toler that is very happy to see that theres another Toler thats on T.V. My Family is from Virginia and I was wondering if theres possibility that we’re linked to the same family. God bless you and keep up the good work.
Michelle, you may want to go to divorcecourt.com If you go there, there is place where you can send an email directly to Judge Lynn Toler. Good Luck!
You must be gay. You suck up to all females. You are not just.
Lynn Toler is my favorite of all of the court shows! Keep up the good work.
Judge Toler I think you are the best. I love when you bring in examples of your own personal life when giving advice. It let’s people know that even celebrites are people to. Wisdom is always good. You would be surprise how much good advice is taken to heart. I wish you God’s Blessings in all you do!
Date: August 22, 2007 4:17:06 PM PDT
Honorable Lynn Toler;
Your Honor, as an African-American Man and Father, I need to know why do you (Divorce Court) continue to present our people as ignorant, “I seen” mentalities?
Although you present yourself and your husband (a?blessed man) as positive alternatives, it does not erase the stereotype
of African-Americans as being a stupid, good-for-nothing race. Today I watched a portion of the Ishmael Gomez
segment and was moved to write this message.
For many years I lived and worked abroad as a musician/producer. The Daughter that I helped to create was my main focus.
I put her ahead of everything else including offers to appear in Las Vegas and waited until she understood and could be responsible for her 50% of our relationship before I returned “home” to the USA.
I have produced an anti-drug abuse message “Give It Up” (Kickin’ Drug Abuse), please visit myspace.com/shelleyfishersmusic
and shelley-fisher.com for further information.
I am seeking help via exposure from celebrated people of all races to bring morality back to the music. I would appreciate you
referring others to the sites mentioned and ask you please find some intelligent guests for your show. I offer my entire writers royalties to a charitable organization of your choice for helping to spread the message. I indemify you from any legal actions pertaining to this matter.
The Media is very powerful. It tells people in other countries that this is what they can expect if their daughters hook up with a man of African-American decent, as in the case of Mr. Gomez.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message and I pray for your continued good health and success as an Mother, Icon and Judge.
Kindest regards,
Shelley Fisher
Vantown Productions, Inc.
P.O. Box 33314
Las Vegas, NV 89133
P.S. May I please have an 8X10 of you, autographed???
I really like Judge Toler however I see that she has sold her soul to Fox by choosing to continue to chemically alter her hair. She would look FIERCE with a TWA (that’s black speak for teeny weenie afro)she doesn’t even realize that she has the power to influence millions more by simply choosing to be herself.
Dear Judge Toler: I am a family law attorney in Florida. My experience covers all areas offamily law. I have been ill for quite a while and now at the point where I have to spend 90% of my time in bed. My mind still functions and I can do research at home. I am tryingto think “outside of the box” to make generate income. I am such a fan of yours I thought as I was watchingtoday that perhaps you or your producers may have occasion to need legal advice targeted to the Florida area. If so I would like to offer my services. If I get a response I will give you my telephone number. I do not want tosend it over the internet. Thanks for your time. Charlene
Either your webmaster was uninformed, or, the truth about why Judge Mablean is no longer on Diborce Court wasn’t good enough. She called in to my favorite morning radio program to tell us what the negotiating points of her contract were. HAIR WAS NOT THE MAIN STICKIG POINT. Hell, she could pay for her OWN hair stylist. Fox didn’t want to pay her what she asked, even though her ratings were right up there with Judge Joe Brown and Judge Alex. The hair business makes her seem small minded. No one quite a GOOD PAYING gig over hair. I haven’t been a regular viewer of Divorce Court since then. Judeg Toler never misses an opportunity to let us know that she has ‘made it’, so, if the ratings slip, she won’t suffer financially.
Hello Judge Toler, and Joe,, REGARDING WHETHER A WOMAN SHOULD BE SUBMISSIVE TO HER HUBBY!!!
It is scarey the thought of some men today ,, in our times,, would even possibly think that their women should follow what the Bible says,, if they (said men) dont,,, I would NEVER allow a man,, unless he was a man of God,, and loved me the way the Bible tells him too,, be submissive to him at all. In fact , it would be very dangerous to trust what or whom you were being submissive to,, emotionally , physically, physologically,, could be VERY dangerous… In fact,, in the garden of Eden,, it wasnt Eve who committed the sin,, because ,, with Adam as the head of the house,, when he got home,, he coulda said,, “NOO,, we not doing that,, cant ,, God told us not too”,, but NOO,, he let her talk him into it,, THAT was when it went against em both,, trying not to get on my soap box,, but there are some very dangerous men out there with this missconseption that NO MATTER WHAT, the wife should do what the Bible says and do what they told ,, and speak only when spoke to,, oh my ,, Bless ALL the blind ppl out there,,
It also says to worry bout the 2X4 in your eye, before u go looking for the toothpick in someone else’s
LOVE YOUR SHOW
nnie
I love to watch Judge Lynn. I like the way she expresses herself.
Now I used to think she was really stuck up and mean when she was on that other show.
But I was so wrong.
She is the sweetest , most beautiful, smart woman that I watch on Tv..
Judge Toler you are the best when it comes to advice make me think i’m having a chat with my gradmother.You say all the right things when needed to be said not being rude but just the truth without the sugar coatings. You go girl!
Hi Judge Toler,
First of all I just have to tell you I have been a loyal viewer of Divorce Court from day one, yes I did watch Judge Mabelean when she was the host but now she’s not so I watch you. I feel you have sooo much more wisom not taking anything away from Judge Mabelean but I feel you say things that people can leave with. I have admired you from day one first your pretty, you are a sharp minded person, and my birthday is very close to yours, October 29,1965. I know this is a stretch but I absolutley loveeeeee to meet you in person I really would. We could even pass for sisiters hahahaha, anyway keep doing what you do and email me and let me know when we can meet I know this is a far out email but I think you are such a well rounded African American woman that I could get some insight and knowledge from and maybe you could be my mentor. The Bible says you have not because you ask not. Also I live in North Carolina near Charlotte
God bless looking forward to forming a friendship.
smooches
how can an african american attorney in the new york area become involved in television legal shows? My background is primarily in the immigration field
Judge Lynn Toler,
I did not agree with your having Juanita Bynum as an “expert” witness after her one incidence of domestic violence. I thought it took away from the credibility of your show. Now I am suspect of Juanita Bynum’s DR. degree if she can so freely give advice portrayed as an expert when she has no credentials for this. I do hope you will think hard about who you invite to stand in for you from now on. Also, yes, we do disagree with Juanita Bynum’s mass of wealth accumulation in the name of God.