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Marilyn Milian

Judge Marilyn Milian, the first Latina judge to host a nationally syndicated television court show, returns for her sixth season on The People's Court. Judge Milian is proud of her Cuban heritage and often uses phrases from her grandmother when addressing litigants. “No sabes ni adobar la mentira…You don't even know how to season the lie to make it palatable,” Milian admonishes a litigant who is trying to lie in her courtroom.  The highly successful court series takes viewers inside a television courtroom where Milian dispenses her own unique brand of justice daily. Judge Milian explains Americans' fascination with the court show genre:  “We are a fast-food nation. People love to see resolution, they want to watch someone who has done wrong confronted and see justice prevail … all in an hour.” 

In addition to presiding over The People's Court, Milian has enjoyed major media exposure including a recent feature in The New York Times in the Arts & Leisure Section. Judge Milian has appeared on many talk and television news programs including Today, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tony Danza Show, FOX News Channel's At Large with Geraldo Rivera, Court TV's Catherine Crier Live, CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and Extra. Milian is a sought-after interview subject and has been profiled in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post, New York Daily News, The Miami Herald, People, People en Espanol, Entertainment Weekly, Vibe, Vanidades, Florida International Magazine, and Glamour, among others. 

Originally from Queens, NY, Milian moved to Miami with her family when she was eight years old. Milian received her undergraduate degree at the University of Miami, where she graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade average. She then attended Georgetown Law School, where she earned her law degree and graduated cum laude at 23 years of age.

Milian is fluent in Spanish. She spent a year working at Harvard Law School, where she served as director of training for the Guatemala Project. She was responsible for training the Guatemalan trial judiciary, defense and prosecution bar in investigatory and trial techniques.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed Milian to the Miami Circuit Court in 1999, where she served in the Criminal Division. Prior to that, she spent five years in the Miami County Court in the Domestic Violence Court and Criminal and Civil divisions. She was appointed to the County Court by then-Governor Lawton Chiles. Before serving in the County Court, Milian worked from 1984 to 1994 as an Assistant State Attorney for the Dade County State Attorney's Office, personally appointed by Janet Reno.

Out of the courtroom, Judge Milian lends her support to many community and philanthropic organizations. Milian is the spokesperson for the FBI's Safe Online Surfing (FBI-SOS) campaign.  She is a sought-after speaker well known for her dedication to the Hispanic community and her strong voice against domestic violence. Milian has served as emcee for countless charitable causes, including the Latino Commission on AIDS, The Lighthouse for the Blind, The Miami–Dade County Teachers Awards, Hope for Vision, and the South Florida Children's Home Society. She was an honorary host for National Chairman Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2003 annual celebration of the South Florida Inner-City Games. Milian was the honorary Judge for Washington's 2002 Teachers Making A Difference campaign and is actively involved in supporting Southern Florida's Children's Cancer Center's Summer Camp, hosting “Camp Court,” mock trials of camp counselors by the young campers.

Judge Milian resides in Miami with her husband John Schlesinger, a Circuit Court Judge, and their three daughters, Cristina, Alexandra and Sofia. When not on the bench, Judge Milian is a self-described “soccer mom,” driving “the beat-up minivan, Cheerios stuck to the floors, to and from school, soccer, ballet, tennis, theatre, and play dates!”