
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.

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.

One side of a family says a teenager left his treasured pet with Grandma during a vacation; Grandma says she's grown attached and doesn't want to give it back!

A fence goes up, and so do tempers; one man claims repeated boundary violations, while a neighbor says he didn't know the property was owned, and he moved the fence upon finding out; this dispute proves good fences don't always make good neighbors.

A marriage on the rocks turns into a money mystery; he says he handed over two envelopes of cash only to find hundreds missing when he returned; she says he simply miscounted, and she just wants a divorce.