What he did not know was the interesting path that choice would lead him down. From his early years as a prosecutor in Miami under Janet Reno to the soon-to-be celebrity judge taking his own brand of justice to the masses on the new daytime television show "Judge David Young."

The show, which Young promoted at NLGJA, goes into syndication on Sept. 10. It is a chance to bring together two of his passions - law and entertainment. His sense of humor and controversial sentencing has gained him national attention, while his concern for people and strong sense of personal responsibility has made him a valued member of the bench.

• Jason Bellini, of Logo, blogs about Judge Young from NLGJA

"I believe in therapeutic jurisprudence," Young said. "I want people to think about their actions and take personal responsibility."

Young hopes to provide a public service not only by helping to demystify the judicial role.

"Judiciary is the last bastion of democracy," Young said. "Without it there would be no government." This echoes his feeling that the general public is ill-informed about whom it chooses to fill roles of judges within their communities.

He stresses the need for voters to know something about their judicial candidates because it is these judges who will have an impact on people's lives.

A graduate of Tulane University and University of Miami College of Law, Young became a prosecutor and then an assistant state attorney for the State of Florida under Janet Reno. He credits Reno with being a "remarkable human being" and the lessons learned from her as being "lifelong."

In 1993, Young was elected as a County Court Judge in Miami-Dade County. After being re-elected twice to that post he was then elected twice to the bench as a Circuit Court Judge in Miami-Dade County. It was during this time that Young's courtroom style gained the attention of the media.

One of his highest profile cases was in May of 2005 when he sentenced two America West pilots to jail for being attempting to operate an airplane while intoxicated. He once dropped disorderly conduct charges against an opera singer by requiring him to give a virtuoso performance in the courtroom.

"You break down barriers by being funny, not by yelling at people," Young said. Unconventional in some ways but progressive, Young has been considered a champion for the rights of all citizens.

His dedication to his field is evident even in his personal relationships. A fellow judge and his partner of 12 years, Judge Scott Bernstein, shares Young’s commitment to the community and particularly to children through his work in the juvenile court system.

Bernstein is delighted at Young's opportunity to bring his love of law and respect for justice to millions of Americans on TV. "I am thrilled for David," Bernstein said. "It is the greatest thing to see your partner fulfill their dreams."