Tonight 7pm--Counsel's Relationship with the Judge

Does knowing the judge really matter? What if the bench holds one lawyer in high regard as a top practitioner in her field? What

if counsel has more experience than 'your Honor'?

Tonight at 7:00 p.m. on WFMZ-TV 69, The American Law Journal addresses "The Judge-the 'X' Factor in Family Law Cases." Attorney Host Christopher Naughton welcomes New Jersey's past Family Law chair Bonnie Frost of Einhorn Harris Ascher Barbarito & Frost, past Pennsylvania Family Law Chair David Ladov of Cozen O'Connor and past president of the Northampton County Bar Donald F. Spry, II of King Spry Herman Freund & Faul. Produced at the Union League in Philadelphia, the panel gives strategic insight into how a judge's relationship with lawyer and client factors into the case's final determination.

"They call it 'lawyering,'" opines Spry. "You can't ignore your surroundings or relationships. Judges are human. But you have to be careful. I have seen it cut both ways. A judge who has a relationship with counsel may overcompensate in order to avoid the appearance of being unfair."

The American Law Journal broadcasts every Monday night at 7:00 p.m. on WFMZ-TV 69 in the tri-state area and is available free on demand at www.LawJournalTV.com. Next week: "Ghostwriting: Just Who is Writing Medical Journal Articles?."