Judd for the Defense

After playing a version of Ward Cleaver as Dr. Alex Stone pediatrician and all American dad on The Donna Reed Show, Carl Betz took a part light years away as the star of Judd For The Defense. Based on the life and exploits of noted Texas criminal defense attorney, Judd For The Defense was the greatest kind of publicity for the flamboyant Mr. Foreman. If anything Betz was considerably toned down for television.

Betz had as an assistant Stephen Young and the two of them took all kinds of controversial cases. His services did command a considerable fee as did Percy Foreman in real life. But even Foreman took on a defendant now and then for the publicity value. Foreman's most famous client was James Earl Ray whom Foreman persuaded to take a guilty plea for the death penalty being taken off the table.

Sad to say that the show only lasted two years. I wish it had gone on longer the stories were good, the acting always superb.