Mablean Ephriam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mablean Ephriam
|
|
|---|---|
Ephriam in November 2019
|
|
| Born | April 23, 1949 Hazlehurst, Mississippi, U.S.
|
| Education | Pitzer College Whittier College School of Law |
| Occupation | Former prosecuting attorney |
| Children | 3 including Tajamika Paxton |
Mablean Deloris Ephriam, born on April 23, 1949, is a well-known American television personality. She was also a prosecuting attorney in Los Angeles. She is most famous for being the judge on the TV show Divorce Court for seven seasons. This was from 1999 to 2006.
After Divorce Court, Judge Lynn Toler took her place. Mablean Ephriam is also known for playing a judge in Tyler Perry's Madea movies. In 2014, she returned to TV with her own show called Justice with Judge Mablean. This show is produced by Entertainment Studios. Her daughter, Tajamika Paxton, is a writer, director, and producer.
Contents
Judge Mablean's Early Life and Legal Career
Mablean Ephriam was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. When she was six years old, her family moved to Los Angeles, California, where she grew up. Before becoming a TV judge, she had a lot of experience in law.
Starting Her Career
She began her career working as a corrections officer. This was in the Women's Division of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She then went to Pitzer College on a four-year scholarship.
Becoming a Lawyer
Later, she attended night classes at Whittier Law School. She earned her law degree in 1978. In 1982, she opened her own law office. She mostly worked on cases about personal injuries and family matters. Soon after, she became a prosecuting attorney for Los Angeles County.
Judge Mablean's TV Career
Mablean Ephriam became a familiar face on television. She used her legal knowledge to help people solve their problems on screen.
Her Time on Divorce Court (1999–2006)
In 1999, the TV show Divorce Court was brought back for a new season. Mablean Ephriam was chosen to be the judge. She was the first judge in the show's reality-based version. Before her, the show used actors to re-create real divorce cases.
She was also the first African American woman to be a judge on the series. The three judges who followed her were also African American women. Judge Ephriam was on Divorce Court for seven seasons. This was from 1999 to 2006.
Judge Mablean's Style on Divorce Court
While on Divorce Court, Judge Ephriam was known for her humor. Her unique voice and surprised reactions often made the audience laugh. She would react to the funny or strange behaviors of the couples.
Her famous saying on the show was "Look deep before you leap." She advised couples to think carefully about each other before getting married. Judge Ephriam encouraged people to talk about their problems. However, she quickly brought order back to her courtroom if things got too wild. She would scold people for being disrespectful.
Why Judge Mablean Left Divorce Court
In March 2006, it was announced that Judge Ephriam would leave Divorce Court. This was after her seventh season. Reports said she and the show's producers could not agree on a new contract. One reason was that she wanted a higher salary.
She also said that she was not allowed to change her hairstyle for a whole season. The network thought her hairstyles took too much time for their hair and makeup team. Judge Ephriam stated that she wanted FOX to accept the cultural differences of African Americans, including their hairstyles. Judge Lynn Toler took her place.
Judge Mablean in Madea Films
Mablean Ephriam also played a strict judge in Tyler Perry's Madea films. In these movies, Madea often gets into trouble. The judge never sends Madea to prison. Instead, she gives her other punishments. These include house arrest or becoming a foster mother.
Judge Ephriam appeared in the movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She also played the same judge character in Madea's Family Reunion and Madea Goes to Jail.
Justice with Judge Mablean
In the fall of 2014, Judge Ephriam returned to TV with a new court show. It is called Justice with Judge Mablean. This show is produced by Entertainment Studios. It airs on the Justice Central network and other TV stations. The episodes are filmed in Culver City, California.
The show has been very successful. In May 2025, it was announced that Justice with Judge Mablean would be renewed for two more seasons. This means the show will continue through its thirteenth season.
Other Projects and Activities
Judge Ephriam has also worked on other projects outside of her TV shows. She is dedicated to helping her community.
The H.U.F. Awards
She hosts an annual event called The H.U.F. Awards on Father's Day. This event celebrates fathers who are not always recognized. In June 2010, she shared her happiness about the event. She enjoys giving fathers a special day with music, food, and entertainment.
She also loves giving scholarships at The H.U.F. Awards. She wants to encourage young people to go to college and follow their dreams.
Celebrity Fit Club
Judge Ephriam also appeared on the first season of Celebrity Fit Club. On the show, she lost 25 pounds. She shared that she has kept the weight off. Her weight might go up and down a little, but she stays healthy.
