exclusive - As California wildfires continue to burn, several popular TV judges say they're ready to see some fallout.
As of this week, California wildfires have destroyed countless homes and claimed the lives of more than 20 people. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom bore the brunt of the disaster. Some blame leaders for failing to secure enough resources to fight the blazes, while others blame Bass for traveling internationally amid the blazes and cutting millions of dollars from the city's fire department's budget.
Judges Adam Levy and Tanya Acker on Prime Video's "Justice" told Fox News Digital they want to see some accountability. Judge Patricia DiMango serves as the third judge on the Justice in the Tribunal panel.
"I know a lot of people whose houses burned down," Acker said. "I know communities that have been burned or are being burned ... it's a really tough time."
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On January 9, 2025, the Eaton Fire broke out in Altadena, California, and wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area. Firefighters battled the blaze in the Los Angeles National Forest near Mount Wilson, with strong winds blowing up embers. (Reuters/Ringo Chiu)
Acker explained that she felt "blessed and lucky" because she only had to evacuate briefly before returning home.
Levi, son Judge JudyAs the creator of "Justice," he said he'd like to see some litigation following the events of Hell.
"I hope so," he told Fox Digital News. "I do. But, you know, the thing is, when lawsuits are filed, like the one recently filed in New Orleans and the Bourbon Street Massacre, if there's a verdict, if you can overcome the sovereign immunity issue, if you can overcome the Chapter "The issue of third-party liability for criminal conduct and the issue of foreseeability that always comes into play, I think the system has to change."
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On January 11, 2025, the Palisades Fire broke out near the Brentwood community of Los Angeles, California, USA. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu, Getty Images)
a lawsuit have Conflict with Southern California Edison over Eaton Fire. Trial law firms McNicholas & McNicholas, Becker Law Group and Singleton Schreiber filed a lawsuit on behalf of victims affected by the fire, alleging that Southern California Edison failed to comply with basic electrical and fire safety standards, including failing to maintain electrical wiring and overgrown property. Fox 11 reports. The lawsuit calls it "gross negligence."
Levy took aim at public officials, who, he said, "know they will not be held accountable" and "will do whatever it takes to keep their jobs."
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"This is despite the fact that the decisions they made put the majority of their constituents at risk," Levy said. "You have to do it. That's how I feel. This comes from me. I'm a former prosecutor. I set the policies. I set the budget, and I always do it with the safety of my constituents in mind... ...Unfortunately, there are people, there are politicians who won't hesitate to do the wrong thing if it makes them more likely to be re-elected, and we have to change that and we have to make sure that public officials are involved and that's the only way we can do that. "To do this, we need to change tort law."
Acker said she hopes people don't start dragging Los Angeles into a truly divisive national conversation, but she agrees people have a right to raise issues with California leadership.
"There's a difference between trying to dig deep and get to the root cause of something versus just trying to score political points," Acker said. "I don't think the latter is helpful, but that doesn't mean... we There's got to be clarity on how and why this happened and people need to be held accountable for the decisions that they make or don't make and, you know, we have to make sure that we can better protect this community, so, I mean. , we should be asking some tough questions, and I think now is the time to continue that for the foreseeable future because there's a lot that needs to be addressed here."
Adam Levy (right) is the son of Judge Judy Scheindlin and stars in the TV series "Justice" with Judges Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango. (Michael Becker/Prime Video)
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"I think we need a very rigorous investigation into what happened so we can prevent this from happening again," she later added. “We really need to dig deep and help these communities rebuild.”
As for reports that looters have begun taking advantage of burning neighborhoods, Acker isn't holding anything back.
"I can't think of anything more despicable than trying to loot destroyed homes and property and hurting people who are already going through one of the worst moments of their lives," Acker told Fox Digital. "I think. It doesn't get much more despicable than this... I'm glad our district attorney said his office is going to take a tough stand against those who prey on people. I mean, I just can't stop. Can't think of anything more hateful."
The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested 39 people in evacuation zones since the Palisades fire, the police told Fox News. Police said the suspect was armed with knives, window-breaking tools, masks, gloves, narcotics and other "burglary paraphernalia" when he was arrested.
"This community is truly going through one of the worst moments in its history. And exacerbating that pain by hurting people," Acker continued. "I just - I can't, I have nothing to say. I want those who engage in this type of activity to be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent."
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Justice Season 2 will premiere on Prime Video on Monday, January 27, with new episodes available every weekday.