Judge Mablean Lands TV Series Based On Her Early Career

Judge Mablean

Judge Mablean Lands TV Series Based On Her Early Career

Everyone’s favorite former Divorce Court judge, Judge Mablean Ephriam, is getting the television series treatment—and it’s courtesy of her daughter.

Thanks to Judge Mablean Ephriam, Divorce Court Quickly became one of the most popular and beloved court shows on television. Now, the no nonsense yet always reasonable approach that Judge Mablean possesses in her career is set to be chronicled in an upcoming TV series spearheaded by her daughter.

Judge Mablean & daughter Taj Paxton

According to reports, Emmy-winning producer Taj Paxton, daughter of Judge Mablean Ephriam, is teaming with Don Handfield to develop a family drama series inspired by the true-life story of Ephriam, who made history as the first female African American judge to preside on a nationally televised court show, Divorce Court. Paxton will also write and executive produce the potential series while Ephriam will serve as a consultant and executive producer.

Speaking on what audiences can expect from the series, Ephriam had this to say:

“Though the series will be based on my story as a black mother and woman who worked hard to fulfill her childhood dreams of becoming a lawyer and judge, my failures and victories echo the lives of many black women, in particular, and women in general, as they deal with juggling career, motherhood and marriage.”

The official synopsis for the show reads as follows:

The series will center on a tenacious but tender working-class black mother who like Ephriam works as a correctional officer to put herself through law school. She also manages a challenging relationship with her husband, a charming, street-smart man whose fierce independence often lands him on the wrong side of the law.

When Ephriam first opened her private family law practice, money was so tight her young children worked as her employees. Her 10-year-old (Paxton) would serve as her legal secretary typing up court briefs, while her older brothers filed court documents and assisted in serving subpoenas. This series is inspired by those beginnings.

Paxton also explained why the project is so important to her:

“In some way my whole journey has been building up to telling this story and all its elements: chaos, coming of age, tumult, empowerment, triumph and above all else, love. I’m so glad to have found a producing partner like Don who understands the complexity of the story and shares our passion for telling it authentically.”

As the series is currently still in the development stages, there is no word yet on potential cast, network or premiere date. We’ll keep you posted!

Will you tune in to the series based on Judge Mablean’s life? Let us know in the comments!