Judge Rachel Juarez

Judge Rachel Juarez serves as one of three judges on CBS Media Ventures' Emmy-nominated syndicated court program HOT BENCH, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. The show returned for its ninth season on September 12, 2022. During the 2020-21 season, HOT BENCH was the #1 original court program in daytime television in household ratings and all major demographics.

A Los Angeles native, Juarez is a graduate of Yale University and Stanford Law School.  Following graduation from Stanford Law School, Juarez joined litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, where she gained considerable experience in all aspects of complex civil litigation with a specific emphasis in trial work. 

In the early years of her career, Juarez participated in several high-profile trials and other matters, representing clients such as Google, Samsung, Mattel, and Trust Company of the West (TCW).  In 2016, Juarez co-founded a family law practice specializing in the representation of high net worth and high-income individuals in complex divorce and other family law matters. After several years of managing her own law firm, Juarez was appointed to serve as a Temporary Judge by the Los Angeles County Superior Court Temporary Judge Program.  

Juarez's unique talent and passion for trial advocacy has led to significant success in the courtroom.  As a business litigator, family law litigator, and volunteer prosecutor, Juarez has successfully first-chaired jury trials, non-jury trials, and arbitrations; her nuanced understanding of both trial strategy and trial procedure have enabled her to seamlessly integrate preparation for a possible trial into all aspects of her cases. Juarez has been named a Super Lawyers "Rising Star" each of the last six years. She is also a graduate of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's "Trial Advocacy Project" (TAP), making her eligible to serve as a volunteer prosecutor for prosecutorial agencies across the City of Los Angeles. Through the TAP program, Juarez spent considerable time working with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office to prosecute misdemeanor jury trials, gaining further experience in everything from jury selection through verdict.  

Since the beginning of her career, Juarez has devoted a considerable amount of time to educating and training up-and-coming attorneys and to giving back to both the legal and non-legal communities. While at Yale and Stanford, Juarez enjoyed tremendous success in trial advocacy competitions, winning both individual awards and major tournaments at every level of national competition. Armed with that experience, she spent several years as Head Coach (and, later, Attorney Coach) for the undergraduate Stanford University Mock Trial team, which grew to prominence as a top-ten nationally ranked program by the end of her time leading the program. Juarez also mentored, coached, and trained law students in both trial and appellate advocacy, serving as both President and Training Director of the Stanford Law School Mock Trial team and as the Vice President of the Marion Kirkwood Moot Court program. 

Juarez also spent significant time during her law school career working as a student advocate through the Stanford Three Strikes Project (Criminal Defense Clinic) at the Mills Legal Clinic, where she represented clients facing conviction or seeking to appeal convictions under California's Three Strikes law.    

Most recently, Juarez was appointed as a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's President's Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession, where she works with other attorneys to support and promote the full participation of women lawyers in the legal profession.

Juarez resides in Los Angeles with her husband Rob, three children and stepdaughter.

HOT BENCH is created by Judge Judy Sheindlin and executive produced by David Theodosopoulos. Belinda Jackson and James Glover are co-executive producers. Daniel Mentzer, Rachel Juarez and Yodit Tewolde comprise the three-judge panel. HOT BENCH is produced by Big Ticket Pictures and Queen Bee Productions. It is distributed by CBS Media Ventures.

Judge Daniel Mentzer

Judge Daniel Mentzer joins CBS Media Ventures’ Emmy-nominated syndicated court program HOT BENCH as the newest judge for Season 12, bringing a wealth of legal expertise and courtroom experience to the bench. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, he has been a fierce advocate in the courtroom, handling high-profile criminal cases and shaping legal discourse as a trial attorney and legal analyst.

Before joining HOT BENCH, Mentzer served as a criminal defense attorney for over 20 years, primarily in the Bronx. He led upwards of 90 criminal trials, including 32 homicide cases, demonstrating his skill in navigating complex legal battles. His expertise also made him a sought-after legal analyst for Court TV.

Earlier in his career, he served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for New York State, investigating healthcare professionals accused of Medicaid fraud. He also spent five years as a defense attorney with The Legal Aid Society, defending indigent clients in criminal trials.

Mentzer’s legal acumen extends beyond the courtroom. In 2025, he will appear as a trial attorney in JUDGE JUDY PRESENTS: JUSTICE ON TRIAL, an Amazon series reenacting landmark trials.

A California native, Mentzer earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California at Santa Barbara before obtaining his Juris Doctor from SUNY Buffalo School of Law. He further honed his legal expertise with a Master of Laws in Taxation from William and Mary’s Marshall Wythe School of Law.

HOT BENCH is an Emmy-nominated syndicated court show, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin and executive produced by David Theodosopoulos. Belinda Jackson and James Glover are co-executive producers. Yodit Tewolde, Rachel Juarez and Daniel Mentzer comprise the three-judge panel. HOT BENCH is produced by Big Ticket Pictures and Queen Bee Productions. It is distributed by CBS Media Ventures.

Judge Yodit Tewolde

Judge Yodit Tewolde serves as one of three judges on CBS Media Ventures' Emmy-nominated syndicated court program HOT BENCH, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. The show returned for its ninth season on September 12, 2022. During the 2020-21 season, HOT BENCH was the #1 original court program in daytime television in household ratings and all major demographics.

Prior to joining HOT BENCH, Tewolde was the host of "Making the Case," a nightly criminal justice show on BNC, (now The Grio TV). She was also a host-contributor on "America's Most Wanted" and the morning anchor for "Court TV" where she covered major trials across the country. A nationally renowned criminal defense attorney, Tewolde was the founder and managing attorney of her own criminal defense firm.

Tewolde, who was an Associate Municipal Judge for the City of Dallas in September 2018, has been a member of the Texas Bar since 2010. Since then, she has dedicated her entire legal career to the practice of criminal law. After graduating law school, she served as a law clerk in the 19th Judicial District Court. Soon thereafter, Tewolde began working as an Assistant District Attorney with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, where she learned the intricacies of criminal prosecution while honing her skills as a trial lawyer. Following several years of prosecuting cases in both the adult and juvenile systems, Tewolde transitioned over to criminal defense work. It wasn't long before she was recognized as one of the nation's top lawyers under 40 by the National Bar Association.

With an established career as a trial attorney and staunch advocate for criminal justice reform, Tewolde's legal expertise has been featured on many of the top-rated cable networks. She frequently appears on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and HLN to provide legal analysis on high-profile cases and hot-button issues. Tewolde was also an Opinion Contributor for "The Hill."

Tewolde earned her juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center. While in law school, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Race, Gender and Poverty. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Communications from Texas A&M University. While in undergrad, Tewolde pledged and became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

HOT BENCH is created by Judge Judy Sheindlin and executive produced by David Theodosopoulos. Belinda Jackson and James Glover are co-executive producers. Daniel Mentzer, Rachel Juarez and Yodit Tewolde comprise the three-judge panel. HOT BENCH is produced by Big Ticket Pictures and Queen Bee Productions. It is distributed by CBS Media Ventures.