Judge Lynn Toler

Lynn Toler is a lawyer, jurist, television personality, and author whose career spans the courtroom, academia, and broadcast media. Toler earned a bachelor's degree in English and American Literature from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She began her legal career practicing law in Cleveland and was elected judge of the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court at age 33, serving for more than eight years. During her tenure, Toler developed community programs such as Woman Talk, which mentored at-risk girls, and the CHIP Program, an intensive probation initiative for young male offenders. She also led efforts to establish early response mental health teams for municipal courts.

Toler's television career began as host of the nationally syndicated show "Power of Attorney." She later became the host of "Divorce Court," serving as the longest-reigning arbitrator in the series' history. Her role on "Divorce Court" contributed to the show's continued relevance in the court show genre. Toler expanded her television presence with the prime-time show "Decision House" and as a bi-monthly contributor on News and Notes, a weekly news program on National Public Radio.

Toler also co-hosted We TV's "Marriage Bootcamp" series alongside Dr. Ish Major and continued her work with the network on "Commit or Quit with Judge Lynn Toler." She served as creator, writer, and executive producer for ALLBLK's series "Judge Me Not," a show loosely based on her life. In academia, Toler has been an adjunct professor at Ursuline College, where she developed and taught courses on civil rights law and women and the law, and served as an instructor for the Ohio Judicial College, creating continuing judicial education courses.

As an author, Toler has written several books, including "My Mother's Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius," "Put It in Writing" (co-authored with Deborah Hutchison), "Making Marriage Work: New Rules for an Old Institution," and "Dear Sonali: Letters to the Daughter I Never Had." Her work addresses topics such as relationships, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. Toler has received numerous awards, including the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Cleveland Domestic Violence Center and the Voice of Freedom Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organization. Through her legal expertise, television presence, and published works, Toler is recognized as a leading voice on relationships, justice, and personal accountability in the United States.