Reel Urban News Exclusive
As the newest member of the hit syndicated television show “Hot Bench,” Judge Michael Corriero calls on his 28 years experience as a judge in the New York State Court. Judge Corriero joins a legal panel that includes Judges Patricia DiMango and Tanya Acker.
The retired New York judge spoke with Reel Urban News on the set of “Hot Bench” about his change of venue. “It’s really been a delight. I’m so pleased to be working with Judge DiMango and Judge Acker, they’re really outstanding women. They’re really outstanding lawyers and they’re really outstanding judges. It really makes my job a lot easier.”
The iconic Judge Judy Sheindlin created “Hot Bench,” where a panel of three judges actively questions plaintiffs and defendants and render its verdict. Judge Corriero explains why the show works. “We all have our own areas of expertise. I know Judge DiMango understands certain things a lot better than I do as does Judge Acker. I hope I bring something to the table also. Maybe it’s the male perspective.”
From 1992 to 2008, Judge Corriero presided over Manhattan’s Youth Part, a court set aside within the adult court system to deal exclusively with the cases of 13-,14- and 15-year-olds charged with the most serious and violent crimes.
Judge Acker has nothing but praise for the newest addition to the bench. “Michael’s got an incredible commitment to justice, taking care of kids trying to do the right thing in life,” says Acker. “He’s quite a role model and inspiration to me.”
Joining the panel on “Hot Bench” has reunited Judge Corriero with his colleague and friend Judge DiMango, who had presented cases before him in the Manhattan court system. “I practiced as a young attorney prosecutor in front of Judge Corriero when he was on the bench in New York City,” says DiMango.
“He was just loved. He was bright, he was just fair.”
Judge DiMango shared some advice with Judge Corriero before his debut. “I said just be who you are and everyone is going to love you just as they did in New York City.”
Judge Corriero, appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 1989 by Gov. Mario Cuomo, says hard work is the secret to his success.
“I was born in Manhattan’s Little Italy. I grew up in a tenement, a five-story tenement walkup. We lived on the top floor in three small rooms. My father did not have a steady job until he was in his thirties. He did the work of a longshoreman on the docks. My mom, who was one of seven, had to drop out of school when her father died. She was the oldest. She was 14. Neither of my parents were formally educated but they believed in the power of education.”
Judge Corriero is an alumnus of St. John’s University School of Law and St. John’s University, where he was a member of the Law Review and served as an associate editor. He graduated from St. John’s University College with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in social science.
After years of presiding over the Manhattan Youth Part, Judge Corriero authored the book Judging Children as Children: A Proposal for a Juvenile Justice System.
Judge Corriero maintains that education can help you transcend the station in life you were born into. “The power to change the circumstances of your life is something I believe in and I know and trust.”
A strong proponent of justice and an advocate for children, Judge Corriero believes in our country’s promise to everyone. “This idea of the American dream, no matter who you are or where you come from, you have an equal opportunity to succeed,” says Judge Corriero. “I think as lawyers and judges our responsibility is to make sure that American dream is as open for those coming after us as it was for us.”
