
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 woman says she was promised two puppies from a planned breeding arrangement, while the other says she ended the deal when they ended their friendship.

A contractor says his subcontractor took the money, stalled on the job and tried to "mow down" the debt with a stolen lawn-mower; the subcontractor blames bad weather for the delays, says the mower settled the score and insists he didn't know it was stolen; watch as the judges decide who's building the truth and who's just paving over problems.

A kayak sale sinks fast when a man says the boat he bought was a bust -- he says the seller dodged his refund request, but the seller claims the man left happy and later damaged the kayak himself! Now it's paddle to pandemonium with accusations as choppy as the water.