Marilyn Milian is an American television personality, lecturer, and retired Florida Circuit Courtjudge who presides over the American courtroom television series The People's Court. She is the first Hispanic arbitrator to preside over a court show. By the end of the show's 28th season, Milian had completed twelve-and-a-half seasons presiding over The People's Court, making her the longest-presiding arbitrator on the series.
Early life
Milian was born in Manhattan to Cuban parents Jorge, a general contractor, and Georgina Milian. She is fluent in English and Spanish. The family moved from Astoria, Queens, to Miami when she was eight years old. She graduated from St. Brendan High School. Milian earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Miami. She then attended Georgetown University Law Center, earning her J.D.. 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.
Milian serves as presiding judge in the second life of the courtroom show The People's Court, the first arbitration-based reality court show and the second-longest running court show in history. Milian has presided over the program since spring 2001, which was late in The People's Courts 17th season. The People's Court has featured several arbitrators, with Milian currently holding the title of the longest-presiding arbitrator over the series. By completion of the show's 28th season, Milian had completed twelve and a half seasons presiding over the program, officially making her the longest-running judge on The People's Court. Joseph Wapner, the show's original judge, was the previous holder of this record. On September 7, 2015, the show as a whole entered its 31st season, which is Milian's 15th season presiding over the program. In contrast to The People's Courts previous arbiters, Milian is considerably more animated in her role, but she’s also known for being levelheaded and logical in her observations and handling of the cases. Although engaging for the most part, Milian also dishes out a good-natured, lively sass at the litigants and does not tolerate any disrespect from them. 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." Milian was portrayed by Cecily Strong in a 2017 Saturday Night Live parody of The People's Court where she presided over a case between President Donald Trump and three judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
