Mablean Ephriam

Who is Mablean Ephriam?

Mablean Deloris Ephriam, Esq. is a former Los Angeles prosecuting attorney. She was the adjudicator of the courtroom series Divorce Court for 7 seasons from the 1999-00 season through the 2005-06 season. She was replaced by Lynn Toler in the show's 2006-07 season.

While presiding over Divorce Court, Ephriam was noted for her many humorous moments. Her audience was frequently engaged in laughter brought on by Ephriam's striking and quirky voice and reactions of appall and bewilderment by the ex-couple's outrageous behavior.

Well known as Madea's court judge, Ephraim portrays a strict and stern judge character in Madea films, who must preside over the many cases Madea lands herself into, always as result of violent and destructive conduct. Ephraim made a short appearance in the film adaptation of the play, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She also portrayed the same judge character in both Madea's Family Reunion and Madea Goes to Jail. As a judge, her first name is pronounced "may-BLENE," as in the Chuck Berry song "Maybellene."

Ephriam is a native of Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Although she had never actually served as a judge before Divorce Court, she has had plenty of experience in and knowledge of the law. She started her law career as a correctional officer in the Women's Division of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She attended night classes at the Whittier Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1978. In 1982, she opened her own law practice, dealing mainly with personal injury and family law cases. She soon became a Los Angeles Prosecuting Attorney. In 1999, when Divorce Court was revived and she was chosen to become the show's arbitrator.