Judge Milian is awed by the history of The People’s Court. Milian fondly remembers watching the series with her fellow law students at Georgetown. “Everything stopped when the show was on. We all gathered around the television in the lounge and if you told me then that I would be sitting on the bench of The People’s Court I would have said you were crazy.” Judge Milian is proud to be the first Latina Judge to host a nationally syndicated television court show. In the courtroom, Milian often uses phrases recalled from her Cuban grandmother when addressing litigants.

Judge Milian has enjoyed major media exposure including appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Rachael Ray, Steve Harvey, The Dr. Oz Show, The Wendy Williams Show, TMZ, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Judge Milian is a well-versed legal expert appearing on many news outlets including FOX News, CNN and HLN. Milian is a pursued interview subject and has been profiled in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Miami Herald, People, People en Espanol, Entertainment Weekly, InTouch, Elle, Vibe, Latina, Vanidades, and Glamour, among others. In addition, Judge Milian has appeared on Last Comic Standing and in several episodes of George Lopez.

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 the age of 23.

Milian 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, 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.

Judge Milian is a sought-after speaker well known for her dedication to the Hispanic community and a strong voice against domestic violence. Milian has served as emcee for countless charitable causes, including March of Dimes, The Lighthouse for the Blind, The Latino Commission on AIDS, 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 annual celebration of the South Florida Inner-City Games. Milian and her family are 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.

When the courtroom doors close, Judge Milian leads a fast-paced fulfilling life with her husband John Schlesinger, a Circuit Court Judge, and their three daughters Cristina, Alexandra and Sofia. When asked how she manages it all, Milian responds, “Juggling a husband, three teenage daughters and an intrastate commute to work isn’t easy, you have to remember to be present. Keep the important things front and center and it all works out.” Read Less ^