The Judge (23 Sep. 1986)

Judge Carter Addison murders his cheating mistress and frames her lover. Then the judge presides over the man's trial with Ben Matlock as the defense counsel.

Director:

Christopher Hibler

Writers:

Dean Hargrove (creator), Robert Hamilton

Stars:

Andy Griffith, Linda Purl, Kene Holliday

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Andy Griffith	...	Benjamin Matlock
Linda Purl	...	Charlene Matlock
Kene Holliday	...	Tyler Hudson
Dick Van Dyke	...	Judge Carter Addison
Michael Durrell	...	D.A. Lloyd Burgess
Brian Lane Green	...	Kevin Meredith (as Brian L. Green)
Richard McKenzie	...	Lt. Rupert Davis
Kit McDonough
Piper Laurie	...	Claire Leigh
Toni Sawyer	...	Mrs. Meredith
Richard Newton	...	Judge Richard Cooksey
Richard Wright	...	Harry Hobson
Bobbie Eakes	...	Joanne Leigh (as Bobbi Eakes)
Frank Kahlil Wheaton	...	Bailiff (as Kahlil Wheaton)

Storyline

Judge Carter Addison murders his cheating mistress and frames her lover. Then the judge presides over the man's trial with Ben Matlock as the defense counsel.

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Plot Keywords:

judge | mistress | knife | howdunit | false accusation of murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1986 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

InterMedia Entertainment Company, Strathmore Productions, Viacom Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Judge Addison was attempting to burn the clothes in the garbage can, he lit a rag with his lighter. However, the rag instantly flared up, which it would not do without some sort of accelerant.

User Reviews

Matlock to defend a client framed by the presiding judge

This is the first Matlock. It might have been better if the murderer -played by Dick van Dyke- would not have been shown committing the crime. It appeared to be a little too constructed, really. I mean, why should the presiding judge -here: the murderer- ask Matlock to step down on a case? Because he is afraid of Matlock? nay! It has been done to put the story into a 45 minute frame. However, the idea is nice and it takes into account that first degree murder does also include so called 'respectable persons' committing them. All in all it is the plot that seemed to be working for most of the Matlock cases. The routine started here, the main characters are still kind of being introduced including Matlock's very own idiosyncrasies, like cleaning the shoes on his office desk while people are around...