
Many popular court shows are on TV. How can the genre improve? How about using a three-judge panel? That's the concept of "Hot Bench," created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. After hearing each case, the judges discuss it among themselves before rendering a verdict. The show's title comes from a term describing a court action in which a judge frequently interrupts lawyers with questions.

A man says he paid six months' rent and moved in his belongings, only to be shut out and left with nothing; the homeowner denies receiving payment and claims the tenant made him uncomfortable.

A man says his ex-wife's nephew slashed his tires, costing him a day of work, but the nephew says the plaintiff made up the story to avoid paying for a washer and dryer.

A substitute schoolteacher sues her former student and his mother, who she says were great landlords for years -- until they started harassing her; the son says he felt the need to pepper spray her in self-defense.

Many popular court shows are on TV. How can the genre improve? How about using a three-judge panel? That's the concept of "Hot Bench," created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. After hearing each case, the judges discuss it among themselves before rendering a verdict. The show's title comes from a term describing a court action in which a judge frequently interrupts lawyers with questions.