Fox Orders Reality Series ‘You The Jury,’ Where Viewers Decide Real Civil Cases (Video)

Jeanine Pirro will host show; afterward, America text-messages a binding verdict

So it’s come to this: Fox has ordered unscripted series “You The Jury,” on which America will decide the outcome of real civil cases.

Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro will host the reality show, which premieres Friday, April 7 at 9/8c on Fox. She’ll be joined by six attorneys: Jose Baez, Benjamin Crump, Joseph Tacopina, Areva Martin, Mike Cavalluzzi and Charla Aldous. Former judge of the Superior Court of California LaDoris Cordell will preside over the whole thing.

Here’s how it works. After a case has been presented during the East coast and Central time zone broadcast, viewers get about five minutes to vote via text and the Fox Now App. The binding legal decision will be revealed at the very end of the episode. However, when the West Coast votes, if the cumulative votes (East/Central and West coast/Mountain time zone combined) lead to a different verdict, the original verdict will be overturned as the final outcome of the case.

Each case will address a hot-button issue that defines America today, in Fox’s words. Whether it’s online trolling and the limits of free speech, the constitutional clash of gay rights with religious freedom, or whether someone’s death was the result of a tragic accident or something far more sinister, “You The Jury” will investigate the law and the intense human stories behind it.

In Fox’s courtroom, the closing arguments will be presented by the plaintiff and the defendant as they sit across from one another. They’ve each signed an agreement to have their dispute settled by “America’s Vote,” TheWrap has learned. That’s how it’s all legal.

Below are the bios of Pirro, Judge Cordell and the six lawyers. You may recognize Baez as Casey Anthony’s defense attorney, and Crump as Trayvon Martin’s family lawyer.

Jeanine Pirro, Host
Jeanine Pirro is the host of “Justice with Judge Jeanine” on Fox News Channel, the cable network’s highest-rated weekend primetime show. She was formerly the host of a syndicated weekday court show for which she won an Emmy Award. As a young prosecutor in Westchester County, she was the first female to prosecute a murder case. In 1978, she started the nation’s first domestic violence unit in a prosecutors’ office, which catapulted her to the national scene. She was appointed by three governors to help draft legislation on behalf of crime victims and was appointed to chair a Commission investigating New York fatalities. In 1990, she was the first woman elected to serve on the Westchester County Court bench. The Independent Fund for Modern Courts rated her the No. 1 Judge. In 1994, Judge Pirro became the first female district attorney in Westchester County, where she continued to create innovative programs. These included an internet pedophile sting operation, as well as environmental and hate crimes units. She has written four books, including her latest, “He Killed Them All: Robert Durst and My quest for Justice.” She is a native of New York. 

LaDoris Cordell, Judge
LaDoris Cordell is a retired judge of the Superior Court of California and former Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose, CA. She is an advocate for improving transparency in policing and for building trust between police and the communities they serve. Judge Cordell was the first female African-American judge in northern California. She also was the Assistant Dean at Stanford Law School, her alma mater, where, in 1978, she created a program to increase the enrollment of students of color. Within a year, Stanford Law School went from last to first place in its enrollment of African-American and Latino students, among major law schools. Judge Cordell was the Vice Provost & Special Counselor to the President of Stanford University for eight years, until 2009.

Charla Aldous, Attorney
Founding partner of Aldous\Walker in Dallas, Charla Aldous has tried more than 200 civil jury trials and has frequently been recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the United States. Since 2003, Aldous has been listed in “The Best Lawyers in America.” The National Law Journal has recognized her as one of the 10 Winning Lawyers in America, and her verdicts have been listed by Lawyers USA, as among the highest in the nation.

Jose Baez, Attorney
Jose A. Baez is a well-known trial attorney who has represented clients in a wide variety of criminal and civil cases including the extremely high profile acquittal in the Casey Anthony murder trial; helping to free millionaire; businessman Gary Giordano from prison, who was a suspect in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner, former NFL player Aaron Hernandez, Nick Gordon in the death of Whitney Houston’s daughter’s death Bobbi Kristina, and professional poker player/actor Dan Bilzerian, as well as victims in the “Dark Knight” shooting tragedy in Aurora, CO. Baez was named Lawyer of the Year for 2011 by Lawyers USA magazine and named as one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for the past six years, as well as names one of the “Top 100 most influential lawyers” in the country by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Mike Cavalluzzi, Attorney
A certified criminal law specialist through the California State Bar, Mike Cavalluzzi is one of the best criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles County, who has tried more than 150 cases. Cavalluzzi began his legal career in 1992 as a civil litigator for State Farm Insurance. However after winning several jury trials, he left to focus on criminal defense. He joined the Public Defender’s Office and quickly established himself as a fearless, creative trial attorney, defending clients in all types of cases, ranging from misdemeanor battery to homicide. As a member of the gay community, Mike Cavalluzzi is also an outspoken advocate for the rights of the entire LGBT community.

Benjamin L. Crump, Attorney
Attorney Benjamin Crump and his legal prowess and success have created a significant legal legacy that ensures that the promise found in our nation’s constitution is indeed real in every state, municipality and neighborhood.  Benjamin Crump was nationally recognized in 2014 as a NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers and Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 Most Influential African Americans.  He was also bestowed the American Association for Justice Johnny Cochran Award, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Eleanor Roosevelt Medallion for Service,  the NAACP Thurgood Marshall Award and the SCLC Martin Luther King Servant Leader Award.  In 2016, he was designated as an Honorary Fellow by the University of Pennsylvania College of Law.  Attorney Crump serves on the Innocence Project Board of Directors, was the first African American to chair Florida State University College of Law’s Board of Directors, and served as the 73rd President of the National Bar Association. He has represented some of the most high profile cases in the United States, like the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Robbie Tolan and 9 of the Black women who were the victims in the Holtzclaw Oklahoma City Police rape case in 2015. He also served as Board Chairman of the Legal Services of North Florida, to which he and his legal partner donated $1 million dollars to ensure that poor people would continue to have quality legal representation and access to the courts. He is married to Dr. Genae Angelique Crump and is the proud father of Brooklyn Zeta Crump.

Areva Martin, Attorney
Areva Martin is an award-winning attorney, advocate and highly sought-after legal and social issues commentator. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Martin is founder of the L.A.-based civil rights firm Martin & Martin, LLP. As an attorney advocating for women, children and social justice, Martin’s work has been recognized by countless organizations that have bestowed awards upon her, including the GLAAC Lawyer of the Year Award, the L’Orleal Paris Women of Worth Award, KCET’s Community Hero Award, the California Legislative Black Caucus Civil Rights Leadership Award, the LAAAW-PAC Power Pac Award and the L.A. County Woman of the Year Award. She also has been named a southern California Super Lawyer for the past three years. Martin is frequently called upon to provide her legal, political and social commentary to networks and syndicated television shows. She is currently a recurring host on the Emmy-Award winning daytime talk show “The Doctors.” As a major advocate for children and families living with autism and other related causes, Martin founded Special Needs Network that has raised millions of dollars to provide free legal and counseling services to families in need. Also a popular author, Martin’s first book was “Journey to the Top,” a career guide for women looking to advance their professional careers. Her second book is “The Everyday Advocate” (Penguin) and her third book, “Make It Rain” (Center Street), will be released in 2018.

Joe Tacopina, Attorney
One of America’s most high-powered trial attorneys, Joseph Tacopina leads Manhattan-based Tacopina & Seigel. A former prosecutor, Tacopina is a formidable force inside and outside the courtroom, and is widely considered a fierce cross examiner. Tacopina has represented many high-profile clients such as Alex Rodriguez, Jay-Z and Don Imus. In addition to athletes and other celebrities, he has defended stars of the legal, political and business communities, including a judge, a city councilman, agents of law enforcement and other attorneys. Tacopina has provided commentary for CNN, NBC, ABC, CNBC, FOX NEWS and MSNBC. He also has garnered a number of prestigious awards, including one of the Nation’s top Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association and one of the 10 Best Client Satisfaction Attorneys. Most recently, Tacopina was recognized as the Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year in the State of New York, a Top-Rated Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell’s Legal Leaders and Super Lawyers.

“You The Jury” is produced by Renegade 83. Jay Renfroe, David Garfinkle and Conrad Green serve as executive producers.

Watch a teaser video above.

That tune-in info again: “You The Jury” debuts Friday, April 7 at 9/8c on Fox.

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