Mablean Ephriam
Encyclopedia
Mablean Deloris Ephriam, Esq. (born April 23, 1949) served as the judge on the courtroom series, Divorce Court
from 1999 to 2006. She was replaced by Judge Lynn Toler
.
On Divorce Court, Ephriam was humorous and usually had the audience laughing, with her noticeably quirky voice and shocked reactions, by the ex-couple's outrageous behavior. Since Lynn Toler has replaced Ephriam on Divorce Court, ratings for the court show have since dropped 20% for the 2006-2007 season.
She made a short appearance in the film adaptation of the play Diary of a Mad Black Woman, portraying (fittingly) a judge. She also portrayed the same character in both Madea's Family Reunion
and Madea Goes to Jail. Her first name is pronounced "may-BLENE," as in the Chuck Berry
song "Maybellene."
Ephriam is a native of Hazlehurst, Mississippi
. Although she had never actually served as a judge before Divorce Court, she has had plenty of experience in and knowledge of the law. She started her law career as a correctional officer in the Women's Division of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
. She attended night classes at the Whittier Law School
, where she earned her Juris Doctor
degree in 1978. In 1982, she opened her own law practice, dealing mainly with personal injury and family law cases. In 1999, when Divorce Court was revived, she was chosen to become the show's presiding judge.
Ephriam's trademark phrase on Divorce Court was "Look deep before you leap," advising would-be newlyweds to examine each others' behaviors and attitudes carefully before they decide to marry. While she encouraged her litigants to discuss sensitive issues to get to the heart of what was causing the divorce, she was quick to restore order in her courtroom when things got out of hand, and she scolded her litigants for disrespecting each other, or her, in court.
In March 2006, it was announced that Ephriam would leave Divorce Court at the end of the 2005-2006 season (her seventh behind the bench), reportedly because she and the show's producers were unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension. She was replaced by Judge Lynn Toler
, a former judge from Cleveland Heights, Ohio
, who formerly presided over the short-lived syndicated courtroom TV show Power of Attorney
.
Ephriam hosts an annual event on Fathers Day called The H.U.F. Awards, where she leads a star-studded community celebration of otherwise unsung fathers.
In June 2010, Ephriam expressed joy about the event on The Jazz Joy and Roy syndicated radio show.
"...I would love to get some more money to do what I really want to do, but just putting on this brunch for the fathers and allowing them to have a really wonderful Fathers Day, to share in the joy of good music and good food and good entertainment and being out with family, and all of us making a fuss over them, which doesn't happen for most of the fathers...That gives me great pleasure and great joy!"
It is also a joy, says Ephriam, to be able to award scholarships at The H.U.F Awards, because, "I am just so excited about (the scholarship recipients)! There is the press that we're not going to college--we are going to college. The young people who applied ranged in GPAs from 1.5 to 5 points. We want to encourage all of them to go to college and pursue their dreams."
Ephriam also appeared on the first season of Celebrity Fit Club where she went from 208 lbs to 183, losing 25 lbs, 12% of her body weight. Ephriam revealed to VH1 that she has kept off all of the weight. She added that her weight goes up and down, but she never exceeds 183.
Divorce Court
Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest...
from 1999 to 2006. She was replaced by Judge Lynn Toler
Lynn Toler
Lynn C. Toler is the judge on the television series Divorce Court. Toler is a native of Columbus, Ohio...
.
On Divorce Court, Ephriam was humorous and usually had the audience laughing, with her noticeably quirky voice and shocked reactions, by the ex-couple's outrageous behavior. Since Lynn Toler has replaced Ephriam on Divorce Court, ratings for the court show have since dropped 20% for the 2006-2007 season.
She made a short appearance in the film adaptation of the play Diary of a Mad Black Woman, portraying (fittingly) a judge. She also portrayed the same character in both Madea's Family Reunion
Madea's Family Reunion
Madea's Family Reunion is a 2006 comedy-drama film adaptation of the stage production of the same name written by Tyler Perry and sequel to Diary of a Mad Black Woman. It was written and directed by Perry, who also played several characters, including Mabel "Madea" Simmons...
and Madea Goes to Jail. Her first name is pronounced "may-BLENE," as in the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
song "Maybellene."
Ephriam is a native of Hazlehurst, Mississippi
Hazlehurst, Mississippi
Hazlehurst is a city in and the county seat of Copiah County, Mississippi, United States, located about 30 miles south of the state capital Jackson along Interstate 55. The population was 4,400 at the 2000 census...
. Although she had never actually served as a judge before Divorce Court, she has had plenty of experience in and knowledge of the law. She started her law career as a correctional officer in the Women's Division of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
. She attended night classes at the Whittier Law School
Whittier Law School
Whittier Law School is a law school in Costa Mesa, California. Founded in 1966, it is a fully accredited ABA law school in Orange County, California. A private university, it is part of Whittier College.-History:...
, where she earned her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1978. In 1982, she opened her own law practice, dealing mainly with personal injury and family law cases. In 1999, when Divorce Court was revived, she was chosen to become the show's presiding judge.
Ephriam's trademark phrase on Divorce Court was "Look deep before you leap," advising would-be newlyweds to examine each others' behaviors and attitudes carefully before they decide to marry. While she encouraged her litigants to discuss sensitive issues to get to the heart of what was causing the divorce, she was quick to restore order in her courtroom when things got out of hand, and she scolded her litigants for disrespecting each other, or her, in court.
In March 2006, it was announced that Ephriam would leave Divorce Court at the end of the 2005-2006 season (her seventh behind the bench), reportedly because she and the show's producers were unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension. She was replaced by Judge Lynn Toler
Lynn Toler
Lynn C. Toler is the judge on the television series Divorce Court. Toler is a native of Columbus, Ohio...
, a former judge from Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Cleveland Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The city's population was 46,121 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Cleveland Heights is located at ....
, who formerly presided over the short-lived syndicated courtroom TV show Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney (TV show)
Power of Attorney was an American syndicated TV "judge show" that differed from other judge shows in that each side was represented by prominent attorneys who cross-examined witnesses....
.
Ephriam hosts an annual event on Fathers Day called The H.U.F. Awards, where she leads a star-studded community celebration of otherwise unsung fathers.
In June 2010, Ephriam expressed joy about the event on The Jazz Joy and Roy syndicated radio show.
"...I would love to get some more money to do what I really want to do, but just putting on this brunch for the fathers and allowing them to have a really wonderful Fathers Day, to share in the joy of good music and good food and good entertainment and being out with family, and all of us making a fuss over them, which doesn't happen for most of the fathers...That gives me great pleasure and great joy!"
It is also a joy, says Ephriam, to be able to award scholarships at The H.U.F Awards, because, "I am just so excited about (the scholarship recipients)! There is the press that we're not going to college--we are going to college. The young people who applied ranged in GPAs from 1.5 to 5 points. We want to encourage all of them to go to college and pursue their dreams."
Ephriam also appeared on the first season of Celebrity Fit Club where she went from 208 lbs to 183, losing 25 lbs, 12% of her body weight. Ephriam revealed to VH1 that she has kept off all of the weight. She added that her weight goes up and down, but she never exceeds 183.