Kevin A. Ross
Encyclopedia
Kevin A. Ross is an American
host of the syndicated television
program America's Court with Judge Ross
, a producer, communications strategist, and former California
Superior Court
judge
.
native, Ross attended Gardena High School
, where he was student body president and president of the District-Wide Association of Student Councils for the Los Angeles Unified School District
. He went on to graduate from Morehouse College
with a degree in Political Science, and received his juris doctorate from Southwestern Law School.
epidemic convinced Ross that victims and those living in underserved communities needed advocates to represent their interests. He decided to become a deputy district attorney, and later worked as a hardcore gang prosecutor responsible for implementing controversial civil gang nuisance injunctions.
Ross entered politics in 1995, running for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council
. Finishing third, his presence forced former LA mayoral candidates Stan Sanders and incumbent Nate Holden
into a run-off. Although both courted Ross for his endorsement, he gave his support to Holden, who won the election.
Fraternity, was appointed to the LA County Parks and Recreation Commission, and co-founded The New Leaders, an organization created to train and prepare the next generation of African American leaders locally and abroad.
It was also during this period when Ross began contributing op-ed pieces for publications including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times
, Los Angeles Sentinel
and Los Angeles Daily News
. He was named co-host of “The People’s Connection” on 103.9 KACE, before being given his own show on Disney’s KTZN 710 The Zone. The first talk radio station in the nation to focus exclusively on women, The Zone was unable to find a receptive audience. Eventually it became 710 Radio Disney
before its current incarnation of ESPN
AM sports station KSPN (AM)
. While several on-air personalities lost their jobs, Ross was brought over to do his weekend program on Talkradio 790 KABC
. There, he hosted and produced Keeping It Real with Kevin Ross until he retired from the airwaves to begin his judicial career.
, the first African-American federal district court judge appointed west of the Mississippi. A fellow black Republican
, Judge Williams would subsequently administer the oath of office to Ross after he successfully challenged a sitting judge on the then Inglewood Municipal Court. At that time, Ross was the youngest elected judge in the state of California.
Ross was elevated the following year to the Superior Court through a unification ballot measure approved by California voters. During his seven years on the bench, Ross handled over 60,000 cases, ranging from traffic and small claims matters, to sexually violent predators and murderers. After being profiled on KCET’s Life & Times Tonight, Ross began appearing on the PBS program to discuss legal issues from a judge’s perspective. He also frequently spoke about the importance of Blacks becoming police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges to ensure the judicial system treated minorities fairly.
In 2005 the Commission on Judicial Performance (CJP) removed Judge Ross from office, stating he violated judicial canons pertaining to defendants’ constitutional rights, public comments made on KCET
, and his involvement in a television court show pilot. Ross unsuccessfully appealed the CJP's decision to the California Supreme Court, a ruling that also made him ineligible to practice law in the state. Neither the initial Endemol
and Tribune Entertainment
produced "Mobile Court", nor the follow-up Twentieth Television program "Ross is Boss", was picked up by television stations for syndication.
, a large citizen broadcasting network. "The Kevin Ross Show" became a leading current events and conservative political show on Blogtalkradio. It also ranked among the top five most popular shows on the social networking radio site.
In 2008, Fox News Radio and BlogTalkRadio partnered to bring listeners "Election 2008: Battle of the Blog Talkers." Fans of FOX News Radio's "FOX Across America" selected their favorite BlogTalkRadio hosts from each side of the political spectrum during a weeklong, one-on-one tournament. Ross was chosen as one of the eight hosts, and ultimately won the contest representing the political right.
At a 2009 business meeting with comedian
Byron Allen
to discuss an online media venture, Allen was so impressed with Ross that he made him a deal right on the spot to host a court show for Entertainment Studios
. The following year, "America's Court with Judge Ross" was among the 2010-2011 crop of freshman programs in daytime. The show, also seen on the Verizon FIOS network, has been renewed through the 2012-2013 television season.
, CNN
, Black Entertainment Television
(BET), NPR
and KJLH
as a legal, political and social commentator.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
host of the syndicated television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
program America's Court with Judge Ross
America's Court with Judge Ross
America's Court with Judge Ross is a nationally-syndicated American television show that debuted in several top U.S. markets on September 20, 2010. This show uses a former real-life judge presiding over fictionalized small claims court cases. Here, Kevin A. Ross is the presiding judge...
, a producer, communications strategist, and former California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
Early years
A Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
native, Ross attended Gardena High School
Gardena High School
Gardena High School, known as GHS, is a public high school in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, California, United States, adjacent to the City of Gardena. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:...
, where he was student body president and president of the District-Wide Association of Student Councils for the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
. He went on to graduate from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
with a degree in Political Science, and received his juris doctorate from Southwestern Law School.
Law and politics
An internship working for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office at the height of the crack cocaineCrack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
epidemic convinced Ross that victims and those living in underserved communities needed advocates to represent their interests. He decided to become a deputy district attorney, and later worked as a hardcore gang prosecutor responsible for implementing controversial civil gang nuisance injunctions.
Ross entered politics in 1995, running for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
. Finishing third, his presence forced former LA mayoral candidates Stan Sanders and incumbent Nate Holden
Nate Holden
Nate Holden is a Los Angeles County politician who served four years in the California State Senate and 16 years on the Los Angeles City Council....
into a run-off. Although both courted Ross for his endorsement, he gave his support to Holden, who won the election.
Public service leads to media opportunities
Committed to continuing his civic involvement, Ross became a member of Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Fraternity, was appointed to the LA County Parks and Recreation Commission, and co-founded The New Leaders, an organization created to train and prepare the next generation of African American leaders locally and abroad.
It was also during this period when Ross began contributing op-ed pieces for publications including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Los Angeles Sentinel
Los Angeles Sentinel
The Los Angeles Sentinel is a weekly African American-owned newspaper published in Los Angeles, California. The paper boasts of reaching 125,000 readers , making it the oldest, largest and most influential African-American newspaper in the Western United States.The Sentinel was founded and first...
and Los Angeles Daily News
Los Angeles Daily News
The Los Angeles Daily News is the second-largest circulating daily newspaper of Los Angeles, California. It is the flagship of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, a branch of Colorado-based MediaNews Group....
. He was named co-host of “The People’s Connection” on 103.9 KACE, before being given his own show on Disney’s KTZN 710 The Zone. The first talk radio station in the nation to focus exclusively on women, The Zone was unable to find a receptive audience. Eventually it became 710 Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
before its current incarnation of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
AM sports station KSPN (AM)
KSPN (AM)
KSPN is an all-sports radio station based in Los Angeles, California. It is owned by Disney. It is an ESPN Radio owned-and-operated station.-Play-by-play:...
. While several on-air personalities lost their jobs, Ross was brought over to do his weekend program on Talkradio 790 KABC
KABC (AM)
KABC is a Los Angeles radio station, and a West Coast flagship station for the Cumulus Media company. A pioneer of the talk radio format, the station went "all-talk" in 1960 and was one of the first stations to do so...
. There, he hosted and produced Keeping It Real with Kevin Ross until he retired from the airwaves to begin his judicial career.
Election to the California bench
While attending law school, Ross clerked for David W. WilliamsDavid W. Williams
David W. Williams was an American attorney and judge, the first African American federal judge west of the Mississippi. He is best known for his work in the abolition of restrictive covenants and for overseeing 4,000 criminal cases that stemmed from the 1965 Watts riots.-Early life and...
, the first African-American federal district court judge appointed west of the Mississippi. A fellow black Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Judge Williams would subsequently administer the oath of office to Ross after he successfully challenged a sitting judge on the then Inglewood Municipal Court. At that time, Ross was the youngest elected judge in the state of California.
Ross was elevated the following year to the Superior Court through a unification ballot measure approved by California voters. During his seven years on the bench, Ross handled over 60,000 cases, ranging from traffic and small claims matters, to sexually violent predators and murderers. After being profiled on KCET’s Life & Times Tonight, Ross began appearing on the PBS program to discuss legal issues from a judge’s perspective. He also frequently spoke about the importance of Blacks becoming police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges to ensure the judicial system treated minorities fairly.
In 2005 the Commission on Judicial Performance (CJP) removed Judge Ross from office, stating he violated judicial canons pertaining to defendants’ constitutional rights, public comments made on KCET
KCET
KCET, channel 28, is an independent, non-commercial public television station licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA. KCET's studio is located on West Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is atop Mount Wilson. Al Jerome is the current CEO and President, serving since 1996.KCET was...
, and his involvement in a television court show pilot. Ross unsuccessfully appealed the CJP's decision to the California Supreme Court, a ruling that also made him ineligible to practice law in the state. Neither the initial Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
and Tribune Entertainment
Tribune Entertainment
Tribune Entertainment was a television production and syndication company owned and operated by Tribune Broadcasting in the mid-1980s. Many programs offered from Tribune Entertainment have been broadcast on the company's television stations....
produced "Mobile Court", nor the follow-up Twentieth Television program "Ross is Boss", was picked up by television stations for syndication.
A renewed opportunity to do television
Reigniting his interest in media, Ross decided to start a communications company, become a blogger, and launch an eponymous Internet show on BlogtalkradioBlogtalkradio
BlogTalkRadio is a web-based platform that allows callers to host a live call-in Internet broadcast using a computer and a phone.BlogTalkRadio is entirely web-based and requires no client download.-Service:...
, a large citizen broadcasting network. "The Kevin Ross Show" became a leading current events and conservative political show on Blogtalkradio. It also ranked among the top five most popular shows on the social networking radio site.
In 2008, Fox News Radio and BlogTalkRadio partnered to bring listeners "Election 2008: Battle of the Blog Talkers." Fans of FOX News Radio's "FOX Across America" selected their favorite BlogTalkRadio hosts from each side of the political spectrum during a weeklong, one-on-one tournament. Ross was chosen as one of the eight hosts, and ultimately won the contest representing the political right.
At a 2009 business meeting with comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Byron Allen
Byron Allen
Byron Allen is an American comedian. He is the head of Entertainment Studios, a broadcast syndication company responsible for producing and distributing several television shows pertaining to stand-up comedy and the entertainment industry. Allen also hosts some of the shows himself.-Early...
to discuss an online media venture, Allen was so impressed with Ross that he made him a deal right on the spot to host a court show for Entertainment Studios
Entertainment Studios
Entertainers with Byron Allen is a television magazine interview series hosted by Byron Allen which usually airs in low-profile weekend timeslots in syndication, such as early afternoons against competing sports events on other stations a television station knows they will not compete well...
. The following year, "America's Court with Judge Ross" was among the 2010-2011 crop of freshman programs in daytime. The show, also seen on the Verizon FIOS network, has been renewed through the 2012-2013 television season.
Entrepreneurship
Along with serving as one of the producers on America's Court, Ross is president and CEO of 3BAAS Media Group, a media and marketing firm for clients interested in strategic messaging, branding and content creation. Ross also appears on various cable and radio outlets such as Fox News, MSNBCMSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
(BET), NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and KJLH
KJLH
KJLH is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station serving the Los Angeles area and offers More of a variety of Today's R&B & Classic Soul with a taste of Hip-Hop, Gospel and sometimes Smooth Jazz. The station, which is owned by Stevie Wonder's Taxi Productions, operates at 102.3 MHz with an...
as a legal, political and social commentator.