Exclusive – as Wildfires in California The fire continues, and two popular TV judges say they're willing to see some consequences.
California wildfires have destroyed countless homes and claimed more than 20 lives as of this week. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom They bore the brunt of the blame in the aftermath of the devastation. Some claim that commanders failed to secure adequate resources for the fire, while others condemned Bass for traveling internationally amid the inferno and cutting the city's fire department budget by millions.
said Adam Levy and Tanya Acker, judges on Prime Video's “Tribunal Justice.” Fox News Digital They want to see some accountability. Judge Patricia DiMango serves as the third judge on the “Court of Justice” panel.
“I know a number of people whose homes burned to the ground,” Acker said. “And I know communities that have burned or are burning…it's a really tough time.”
Wind whips embers as a firefighter battles the blaze in the Angeles National Forest near Mount Wilson as wildfires burn in the Los Angeles area, during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, January 9, 2025. (Reuters/Ringo Chiu)
Acker explained that she felt “blessed and lucky” that she only had to evacuate briefly and was able to return to her home.
Levi, son Judge JudyHe, who works as a creator on “Tribunal Justice,” said he hopes to see some lawsuits in the inferno's aftermath.
“I hope so,” he told Fox News Digital. “I do. But, you know, the problem is that when lawsuits are filed, like the lawsuit that was filed recently in New Orleans and the Bourbon Street massacre, if there's a ruling, if you can overcome the sovereign immunity issues and if you can overcome While issues of third party liability for the criminal conduct of third parties and issues of foreseeability always play a role, taxpayers foot the bill, and I believe this system must change.
The Palisades Fire near the Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States on January 11, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anatolia via Getty Images)
One lawsuit He has It emerged against Southern California Edison in response to the Eaton fire. Law firms McNicholas & McNicholas, Becker Law Group and Singleton Schreiber filed the lawsuit on behalf of victims affected by the fire, alleging that Southern California Edison failed to adhere to basic electrical and fire safety standards, including failure to maintain power lines and overgrown growth. plants, Fox 11 reported. The lawsuit called it “gross negligence.”
Levy pointed the finger at government officials who he said “know they are immune from any responsibility” and “will do whatever they have to do to stay in office.”
“Even though the decisions they make put the majority of their voters at risk,” Levy said. “You have to do it. That's my feeling. And that's coming from me. And I was a former DA. I set the policy. I set my budget, and I've always done it with the safety of my constituents in mind… And unfortunately, people, there are politicians who don't hold back.” “In doing the wrong thing as long as it increases their likelihood of being re-elected, we have to change that game and the only way we do that is by changing tort laws.”
Acker said she hopes people don't start dragging Los Angeles into a truly divisive national conversation, but she agreed people have the right to ask questions about… California driving.
“There's a difference between kind of trying to dig in and get to the root cause of something and trying to score political points,” Acker said. “I think the last option is not helpful, but that doesn't mean that… We have to know how and why this happened. And people have to take responsibility for the decisions they made or didn't make. And, you know, we have to make sure we're doing a better job.” “To protect this community for the future, so, you know, the hard questions have to be asked, and I think the time to do that continues into the foreseeable future because there's a lot to discover here.”
Adam Levy, right, is the son of Judge Judy Sheindlin, and stars with Judge Tanya Acker and Judge Patricia DeMango in the series “Tribunal Justice.” (Michael Baker/Prime Video)
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She later added: “I think we need to do a really rigorous investigation into what happened so we can prevent this from happening again.” “And we really need to dig deep and help these communities rebuild.”
As for Reporting that thieves They began taking advantage of the burning communities, and Acker wouldn't hold anything back.
“I can't think of anything more despicable than trying to take homes and property that have been destroyed, and hurting people who are already going through one of the worst moments of their lives,” Acker told Fox Digital. “I can't think of anything more despicable… I'm glad that the Attorney General has indicated that his office is going to take a tough stand, a tough stand on those who prey on people. And I mean, I can just think of that.” “Don't think of anything more hideous.”
The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested 39 people in evacuation zones since the Palisades Fire began, SMPD told Fox News. The suspects were arrested with daggers, window-breaking tools, masks, gloves, drugs and other “burglary tools,” according to police.
“This community is truly going through one of the worst moments in its history,” Acker continued, “and this pain is being compounded by hurting people.” “And I just – I can't, I don't have words to express it. I hope that those who engage in these types of activities are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
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Season 2 of “Tribunal Justice” debuts on Prime Video on Monday, January 27, with new episodes every day of the week.
