You know that specific kind of 90s legal thriller energy? The kind where the ties are a little too wide, the courtrooms are filled with heavy oak, and the stakes feel like life and death even though it's basically just people arguing in suits? That’s exactly what you get with Steve Martini's The Judge episodes, a miniseries that somehow managed to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle tension of the Paul Madriani novels.
If you’re looking for a dozen different episodes to binge, you’re actually going to be surprised.
What Really Happened With Steve Martini’s The Judge Episodes
Most people dive into the search for "episodes" thinking they’re about to find a long-running procedural like Law & Order. Honestly, it’s not that. Steve Martini's The Judge actually aired as a two-part miniseries on NBC back in May 2001.
Wait, so only two? Yeah. But they’re long.
Each part runs about 90 minutes (or around 1 hour and 23-26 minutes if you’re watching the modern streaming versions without the vintage commercials). Because of how streaming services like Apple TV, Tubi, or Amazon Prime catalog older content, they often list these two parts as "Season 1, Episode 1" and "Season 1, Episode 2." Occasionally, you might see them broken down into smaller 45-minute chunks for international syndication, which is why some old TV databases mention three or four segments.
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But for the purists? It’s a two-parter.
The Core Plot: Nemesis as a Client
The story brings back Paul Madriani, the defense attorney who basically has the worst luck with clients in the history of the California legal system. This time, he has to defend Judge Armando "The Coconut" Acosta.
If you’ve read the books, you know Acosta is a piece of work. He’s arrogant, he’s inflexible, and he’s spent years making Madriani’s life a living hell from the bench. Then, the tables turn. Acosta gets caught in a sting operation for soliciting a prostitute. It’s embarrassing, sure, but it gets way worse. The undercover cop who snared him turns up dead.
Suddenly, the judge is looking at a murder wrap.
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Who Was in the Cast?
This is where it gets interesting for fans of prestige TV. The miniseries didn't skimp on the acting chops.
- Chris Noth played Paul Madriani. This was right around his peak Sex and the City and Law & Order crossover fame, so he brought that perfect mix of "I'm exhausted by the system" and "I'm the smartest guy in the room."
- Edward James Olmos took on the role of Judge Armando Acosta. If you want a masterclass in playing a man who is simultaneously powerful and pathetic, Olmos nailed it.
- Lolita Davidovich played Lenore Goya, providing that necessary friction and intellectual weight that the Madriani stories need.
- Charles Durning and Sonia Braga also showed up, giving the whole production a "movie of the week" feel that actually had some budget behind it.
Why People Still Search for These Episodes
There’s a weird comfort in Steve Martini’s world. It’s not "gritty" in the way modern shows are—there aren't a lot of shaky cams or dark filters. It’s a legal puzzle.
People keep coming back to Steve Martini's The Judge episodes because the adaptation actually respects the source material. Mick Garris, who directed it, stayed surprisingly close to the 1996 novel. He captured that specific Madriani vibe: the feeling that the law is a game of chess played by people who don't necessarily like each other.
Also, it’s a direct sequel of sorts. Before The Judge, there was Undue Influence (1996), which starred Brian Dennehy as Madriani. Switching leads from Dennehy to Noth was a bold move, but Noth's younger, more agile version of the character fits the pace of The Judge better.
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How to Watch It Now
Streaming rights for these older miniseries are like a game of musical chairs. One month it's on a free-with-ads platform, the next it's vanished into the digital ether.
- Tubi and Pluto TV: These are usually your best bets. They love high-quality 90s and early 2000s crime dramas.
- Amazon Prime/Apple TV: You can often find them here listed as "Season 1," but you usually have to buy the "episodes" individually.
- YouTube: Believe it or not, the official "Popcornflix" or similar legal movie channels often host the full two-part series for free.
The Verdict on The Judge
Is it worth the three-hour time investment? If you like courtroom dramas where the "twist" actually makes sense based on the evidence presented, then yes. It’s a bit of a time capsule of 2001 television, but the chemistry between Noth and Olmos holds up.
Actionable Next Steps
If you've already finished the episodes and need more, here is how to keep the vibe going:
- Read the Book: The 1996 novel The Judge has significantly more detail on the police union corruption subplot that the TV show had to trim for time.
- Watch Undue Influence: Track down the 1996 CBS miniseries. Even though the lead actor is different, it sets the stage for the Madriani/Acosta rivalry.
- Check out Compelling Evidence: This is the first book in the series. If you want to understand why Madriani is so cynical, start at the beginning.
The world of Steve Martini isn't as flashy as a modern Netflix thriller, but the storytelling is solid, the law is accurate, and the drama is real. Sometimes, that's exactly what you need on a Sunday afternoon.