TV's #1 Original Courtroom Drama HOT BENCH Swears in Judge Daniel Mentzer

Gina Findley also Joins Series as the Bailiff in Season 12 of the Nationally Syndicated Series

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26, 2025 - A new legal mind will be joining the esteemed panel of judges on the nationally syndicated, hit courtroom series, Hot Bench. Accomplished trial attorney Judge Daniel Mentzer will join Judge Yodit Tewolde and Judge Rachel Juarez for Season 12 this fall, bringing a new voice and views to the popular three-judge format taking on real small claims cases from courthouses across the country.

"We are thrilled to welcome Judge Daniel Mentzer to the bench for Season 12," said David Theodosopoulos, Executive Producer of Hot Bench. "His expertise in criminal justice brings another dynamic perspective to our courtroom, perfectly complementing Judge Tewolde and Judge Juarez. I can't wait for viewers to experience the fresh energy and compelling arguments he brings to the series they know and love."

Mentzer brings over three decades of legal experience to the bench. A seasoned trial attorney and legal analyst, he has handled high-profile criminal cases, led 90 trials - including 32 homicide cases - and served as a sought-after expert for Court TV. This summer, he will appear as a trial attorney in JUDGE JUDY PRESENTS: JUSTICE ON TRIAL, a new Amazon series reenacting landmark trials. Prior to joining Hot Bench, he was a criminal defense attorney in the Bronx, a Special Assistant Attorney General investigating Medicaid fraud, and a defense lawyer for The Legal Aid Society. A California native, Mentzer holds degrees from UC Santa Barbara, SUNY Buffalo Law, and an LL.M. in Taxation from William and Mary.

"After over 30 years in the courtroom as a trial attorney, I'm fired up to take the bench alongside the established powerhouse judges of Hot Bench," says Judge Daniel Mentzer. "We will continue to make sure that the truth rises to the top, and that our verdicts are fair and just."

Mentzer joins Tewolde and Juarez, three-year veterans of Hot Bench. Tewolde is a nationally renowned criminal defense attorney, who was the founder and managing attorney of her own criminal defense firm, and a sought-after legal analyst. Juarez is an experienced litigator who handled complex civil cases for large corporate clients, before co-founding a family law practice specializing in the representation of high net worth and high-income individuals in complex divorce and other family law matters.

Mentzer won't be the only new face in the courtroom this fall - Gina Findley, a former NYPD Detective in the Chaplains Unit who retired last year after decades of dedicated service, joins Hot Bench as the Bailiff.

Season 12 of Hot Bench began shooting this week at Stamford Studios in Connecticut.

Created by Judge Judy Sheindlin, Emmy-nominated Hot Bench is the first-ever three-judge bench on television, where plaintiffs and defendants seek justice from a panel of judges, who argue the merits of cases amongst themselves to come to a verdict. Additionally, viewers are treated to a bird's eye view of how the court functions, watching the judges hash out the facts and law during deliberations where ultimately majority rules.

Hot Bench is the #1 syndicated court show in original production, averaging nearly 2 million daily viewers. It ranks in the top 10 first-run shows in all of syndication, and is the only court show to see year-over-year ratings and viewer growth.

# # #

About Hot Bench

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.

Follow the show: On Facebook @HotBench, on X, Instagram, and TikTok @HotBenchTV, and on YouTube @hotbench. Visit hotbench.tv to find out where to watch in your local market.