Fox will debut the new unscripted legal series You The Jury on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. The one-hour series will feature six attorneys arguing “ripped-from-the-headlines” cases, with the audience voting on the outcome. Jeanine Pirro is hosting the series which allows the public to vote on the verdict in real-time and have their decision be binding. West Coast viewers who normally miss out on live votes will actually have their votes counted in You The Jury. Per Fox’s official announcement, “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.”
The attorneys arguing cases presented on the series include Casey Anthony’s attorney, Jose Baez, as well as Benjamin Crump, Joseph Tacopina, Areva Martin, Mike Cavalluzzi, and Charla Aldous. Former Superior Court of California Judge LaDoris Cordell will preside over the cases.
Details on You The Jury, Courtesy of Fox:
“The cases will address hot-button issues that define America today. 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 a dramatic twist, the closing arguments will be presented by the plaintiff and the defendant as they sit across from one another. Once the cases are presented, it will be up to America to decide who will prevail. Viewers will have the opportunity to vote for approximately five minutes, via text and the FOX Now App, after the case has been presented.”
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.
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.
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.
