Judd for the Defense

Judd For The Defense starring the late Carl Betz is an overlooked series, both today and in the two seasons it was televised (1967-69). It was reminiscent of The Defenders in that it focused on controversial issues in a courtroom setting. The episodes ranged from good to excellent and sometimes preceded their time. In one episode, "Transplant," Judd defended a pioneering surgeon in a murder trial that was the result of a heart transplant operation. At the time it was shown in 1968, the trial was landmark since there was only one surviving heart transplant patient worldwide as the medical procedure was so new.

Another episode, "Epitaph on a Computer Card," dealt with a man's job and sanity, which were destroyed by a computer programming error. This prompted Judd to file a lawsuit for invasion of privacy in the man's behalf and by chance, the episode was viewed by the late Senator William Proxmire of Wisconsin. From what I read at the time, Senator Proxmire was so moved by the episode's realistic contents that he introduced it into the congressional record as a timely expose on the invasive methods used by credit card and investigative companies. This was years before the computer age.

I remember that when the series premiered, the title character, Clinton Judd was described as a composite of several named famous trial lawyers who handled difficult cases. Out of interest as a lawyer myself, I have followed the careers of the names mentioned, and I personally think the closest correlation to Judd was the late Percy Foreman of Houston, Texas. Judd was also based in Houston and both had fathers who were county sheriffs. In two episodes, "Tempest In A Texas Town" and "Firebrand," reference was made to Judd's sheriff father in fictitious Amos County, Texas and Foreman's father actually was sheriff of Polk County, Texas, according to his biography by Michael Dorman in 1969.

It is unfortunate Judd For The Defense never received the following it deserved by much of the viewing public.

Based on the real-life legal superstar defense attorneys F. Lee Bailey and Percy Foreman,the lawyer/courtroom drama series "Judd For The Defense" stands out as one of the most interesting shows of its day and it was quite above the norm for a drama that was part "Perry Mason",and part of just about every other lawyer show that emerged from the 1960's. "Judd For The Defense" was grand entertainment at its finest and it was one of those shows that took a different aspect with the issues that confronted and then some. Produced by Paul Monash(who was also behind television's first-ever prime time soap opera "Peyton Place")was also executive producer of this series as well as story consultant for several of the episodes. The series produced 50 episodes all in color and ran for two seasons on ABC-TV from September 8,1967 until the final episode of the series on September 19,1969. The series was based in Houston,TX where Clinton Judd(Carl Betz)was a high-priced,high-powered lawyer criminal attorney who traveled all over the United States with his assistant Ben Caldwell(Stephen Young)defending wealthy tycoons as well as draft evasion,the issues of civil rights,labor activism with a bigger flair for the dramatic-which was definitely shown in several episodes. This was a series that came out during the escalation of the Vietnam War and the civil unrest that was engulfing the nation at a time of crisis.

Judd and his assistant handled cases with some immediate import while even in the late-60's were not only controversial but conservative by today's standards. However,this was actor Carl Betz' second most successful show after his stint of eight seasons as family medical expert and father figure Dr. Alex Stone on "The Donna Reed Show". He started on this series a year after "The Donna Reed Show" ceased production. During his run on "Judd For The Defense",Carl Betz' acting skills were impressive and brilliant not the mention astounding and it shows in the number of Emmys and Golden Globes that it received including winning the Emmy for Outstanding Continue Performance by an actor for a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series in 1969. And it also won Carl Betz the Golden Globe in 1969 for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series. What made this short-lived series so great? For one some of best acting you'll ever see especially coming from Carl Betz who will go to any length to protect his client in a court of law. Some of the guest stars that appear on this series was some of the best in the business which included Brock Peters,Arthur Hill,Edward Asner, James Daly,Kim Darby,Kevin McCarthy,Dennis Cole,Howard Duff,John Dehner, Cicely Tyson,Katherine Houghton(the daughter of actress Katherine Hepburn)Bradford Dillman,James Earl Jones,and Ossie Davis. Some of the writers who wrote for "Perry Mason",and "The Defenders" delivered quality scripts for this show which included the talents of James M.Miller,Jerry DeBono,Joel Kane,Paul Monash,Harold Gast,and Ellis Kadison.

Some of the episodes that were brilliant during its impressive two year run were astounding:"Fall Of A Skylark","Tempest In A Texas Town", "The Deep End","A Civil Case of Murder","Shadow of a Killer",along with "The Name of the Game is Aquittal","In A Puff of Smoke","The Holy Ground","My Client The Fool","Commitment",and "The Flower Child".

The show would be the blueprint for other successful law shows to follow and "Judd For The Defense" was one of the great shows during the turbulant late 1960's.

I have not seen the series but from the above accolades and early demise, I am left wondering how would "Judd for the Defense" have done, if the series were part of a "wheel" series scheme, such as "The Name Of The Game" or "NBC Mystery Movie"?

The controversial subject covered and the story line seem to have reached many who have reviewed the series. I am rather surprised it has not yet gotten into the retro-broadcast schedule of operators such as Me-TV and Retro Television Network.

So it begs the question..."What If?" It seems to me a "wheel" series scheme would have spelled success for this series, adding to the variety of such programming. Who knows, perhaps the broadcasters would revive a modern version. Percy Foreman died in the 1980s, and I doubt F. L. Bailey sued the original producers.

One often hears from attorneys that the show "Perry Mason" inspired them to become a lawyer. You see, it was Clinton Judd, not Perry Mason, who inspired me to become a lawyer (damn him).

I found Clinton Judd more interesting because he had a bigger flair for the dramatic; and because he handled cases with some immediate political import. Clinton also traveled around the country where Perry was content to stay in one place, and when at home in Houston C.J. led a more posh lifestyle.

Clinton's efforts didn't always meet with unqualified success, a point with me as I knew even the best criminal defense attorney cannot run up the a-big-number-and-aught W-L record against some poor Mr. Burger.

I can recall one script wherein Judd's young associate, Ben Caldwell, drove to another state in the company of an attractive woman- and was charged under the Mann Act. Ben wound up having to testify in court that nothing sexual took place. That show is a reminder that in some ways, even the late '60s were highly conservative by today's standards.

After playing a version of Ward Cleaver as Dr. Alex Stone pediatrician and all American dad on The Donna Reed Show, Carl Betz took a part light years away as the star of Judd For The Defense. Based on the life and exploits of noted Texas criminal defense attorney, Judd For The Defense was the greatest kind of publicity for the flamboyant Mr. Foreman. If anything Betz was considerably toned down for television.

Betz had as an assistant Stephen Young and the two of them took all kinds of controversial cases. His services did command a considerable fee as did Percy Foreman in real life. But even Foreman took on a defendant now and then for the publicity value. Foreman's most famous client was James Earl Ray whom Foreman persuaded to take a guilty plea for the death penalty being taken off the table.

Sad to say that the show only lasted two years. I wish it had gone on longer the stories were good, the acting always superb.