Mills Lane may trade courtroom for showbiz

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 10:56 a.m.

Rysher Entertainment on Wednesday announced it will launch "Judge Mills Lane" to air next fall. The show would be a daily courtroom series.

But before that happens, enough television stations around the country must agree to pick up the show.

"It would not be easy to leave the bench, I enjoy it," Lane said. "I have signed with them. It is going forward."

Lane, a popular judge and renowned boxing referee, has been a frequent guest on late night talk shows.

International attention soared after he disqualified Mike Tyson for biting the ear of Evander Holyfield during a championship fight in Las Vegas.

Lane's background in boxing and as a district court judge and former prosecutor makes him a "master" at dealing with confrontation and resolution, Rysher said.

"He is direct, understandable and a common man's judge with a well-established reputation and following," Rysher executive Rob Kenneally said.

Veteran TV syndication producers Bob Young and John Tomlin, whose credits include "Inside Edition," "A Current Affair" and "American Journal," said they hope Lane's show will be in all major markets by next September.