Robert Rinder

Robert Michael Rinder (/ˈrɒb.ət ˌrɪn.dər/; born 31 May 1978) is a British criminal barrister and television personality.[1] In 2014, while still a practising barrister, he began hosting the reality courtroom series Judge Rinder. In 2019, he also began hosting the Channel 4 series The Rob Rinder Verdict.

Judge Rinder
Rinder conducting a choir in March 2017
Born
Robert Michael Rinder

(1978-05-31) 31 May 1978
Westminster, London, England
EducationUniversity of Manchester
Occupation
  • Barrister
  • television personality
TelevisionJudge Rinder
The Rob Rinder Verdict
Spouse(s)
Seth Cumming
​
(m. 2013⁠–⁠2018)​

Early life

Rinder was born into a Jewish family[2][3] in London on 31 May 1978.[4] Rinder was brought up in Southgate, London[3] and was educated at Osidge Primary School and Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys[5][6] and the National Youth Theatre. He later gave up acting because his peer and later close friend, Benedict Cumberbatch, "was so good".[7] Rinder studied politics and modern history at the University of Manchester, graduating with first-class honours in both.[6][8]

Career

Rinder was called to the bar in 2001 after graduating from the University of Manchester, starting his pupillage at 2 Paper Buildings.[6][9] He then became a tenant at 2 Hare Court.[10][11] He went on to specialise in cases involving international fraud, money laundering and other forms of financial crime. He was involved in prosecutions following the murders of Leticia Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis in January 2003, and the defence of British servicemen on charges of manslaughter after the deaths of detainees in Iraq.[12] Since 2010, he has been involved in the investigation and prosecution of alleged bribery, corruption, and fraud in the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands.[12]

Television

While practising as a barrister, Rinder wrote television scripts in his spare time. Upon attempting to sell one, he met producer Tom McLennan.[13] He approached ITV with a proposal for a remake of the 1970s programme Crown Court, but this was rejected in favour of a British version of Judge Judy, and McLennan offered Rinder the opportunity to front it.[14][13] Since 2014, he has been the eponymous judge in the reality courtroom series Judge Rinder, where he has been referred to as a British Judge Judy.[14]

Shortly after the programme started, he criticised Judith Sheindlin, the judge of Judge Judy, for making judgements based on her preconceptions while claiming that he applied the law seriously and made "real legal rulings".[15] Despite this, he insisted that it be clarified on the programme that he is a practising criminal law barrister and not a civil court judge.[16] As such, he wears his normal barrister's court dress but without the barrister's wig.[17] Rinder received praise for his cross-examination abilities and acerbic comments.[14] His courtroom includes a gavel and flag of the United Kingdom, neither of which are used in British courts but are on display in American courts and televised court programmes, and his show has been criticised as "The Jeremy Kyle Show set in a small-claims court".[16][18]

In 2015, Rinder released a book called Rinder Rules.[19] In 2016, he presented a new series, Judge Rinder's Crime Stories, with reconstructions of real crimes. He also hosted Raising the Bar on BBC Radio 5 Live,[20] which he started with a discussion with former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge.[21] In December 2017, Rinder re-launched Crown Court on ITV, newly named Judge Rinder's Crown Court, with a two-part special after a 30-year hiatus.[22]

From September 2016, Rinder competed in the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, stating that he was doing so to make his grandmother proud of him.[23] Rinder was partnered with Ukrainian-born professional dancer Oksana Platero.[24] Rinder was eliminated in week 11 after scoring 31 points dancing a Samba to "Oh, What a Night". He ended the competition in fifth place.

In December 2018, Rinder hosted Good Year Bad Year, a one-off special on Channel 4 where Rinder discussed the topical highs and lows of 2018 along with a number of celebrity guests. In 2019, he began hosting the Channel 4 series The Rob Rinder Verdict.[25]

In July 2020, Rinder appeared on Series 2 of Celebrity Gogglebox alongside Susanna Reid.[26]

Writing

In 2014, Rinder started to write a legal-based discussion column in the newspaper The Sun, and in 2015, he released a book called Rinder Rules.[19] Rinder became a columnist for the London Evening Standard in 2017.[27]

Charitable work

Rinder is the patron of Buttle UK and, in this capacity, has run The London Marathon, as well as launching[28] The Italian Job 2018 at The NEC, Birmingham on 10 November 2017.

Personal life

Rinder entered into a civil partnership with barrister Seth Cumming[29] at a ceremony on the island of Ibiza in 2013, conducted by Rinder's friend, actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch was legally entitled to conduct the ceremony because of his online Universal Life Church ministerial ordination[2] and Rinder was later one of three best men at Cumberbatch's wedding to Sophie Hunter in 2015.[30] It was reported in January 2018 that Rinder and Cumming had separated.[31][32]

References
  1. "'Judge Rinder': 9 Facts In 90 Seconds On ITV Daytime's Barrister Robert Rinder". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. Interview: Judge Rinder, Jewish Chronicle, 21 August 2014
  3. Robert Rinder: the UK's answer to American chat-show host Judge Judy! Jewish News Online, 29 January 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  4. Battson, Francesca. "Judge Rinder: Everything you need to know". Closer. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  5. Anthony Webb (19 June 2016). "Osidge celebrates its 80th anniversary". Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  6. "Judge Rinder and QE". Queen Elizabeth's School. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  7. Hunt, Julia (14 June 2016). "'Benedict Cumberbatch made me give up acting because he was so good' admits Judge Rinder". The Mirror. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  8. "The Big Interview: Judge Rinder". Chambers Student. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  9. Catherine Baksi (21 April 2016). "Legal Hackette Lunches with Robert Rinder". Legalhackette.com. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  10. Robert Rinder, 2 Hare Court
  11. John, Judge (25 June 2014). "2 Hare Court barrister set to be UK's telly Judge Judy". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  12. CV, 2 Hare Court
  13. Foxton, Hannah (2 September 2016). "Interview: Judge Rinder". Cherwell.org. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  14. "Read the FLN's review of ITV's Judge Rinder". Law.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  15. Percival, Ash (8 August 2014). "Judge Rinder sticks the boot into Judge Judy". Daily Star. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  16. John, Judge (15 August 2014). "Exclusive interview: Judge Rinder on life as Britain's newest reality TV star". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  17. John, Judge (25 June 2014). "2 Hare Court barrister set to be UK's telly Judge Judy". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  18. Buerk, Michael (20 June 2016). "Who is Judge Rinder? Meet ITV's reality TV judge and Britain's answer to Judge Judy". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  19. Connelly, Thomas (13 October 2015). "TV barrister Judge Rinder urges 'serious' law students to lighten up in order to succeed". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  20. "BBC Radio 5 live – Raising the Bar with Rob Rinder". BBC. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  21. Connelly, Thomas (25 July 2016). "Judge Rinder lifts lid on judicial life in new radio show". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  22. "Judge Rinder's Crown Court Episode 1". Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  23. "TV's Judge Rinder wants to 'make grandmother proud' on Strictly Come Dancing". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  24. Hogan, Michael (3 September 2016). "Strictly Come Dancing launch: don't rule out Ed 'Disco' Balls's stompy dancing yet – plus 10 more things that happened". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  25. "Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Judge Rinder wants to host dating show". Entertainment Daily UK. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  26. Houghton, Rianne (2 July 2020). "Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid worried about editing on Celebrity Gogglebox". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  27. "Rob Rinder". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  28. "Interview with Italian Job and Rob 'Judge' Rinder". NEC Classic Motor Show. 8 November 2017.
  29. "Seth Cumming". Joseph Hage Aaronson wibsite. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  30. "Benedict Cumberbatch's best man revealed as Judge Robert Rinder". The Daily Telegraph. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  31. Newman, Vicki (17 January 2018). "Judge Rinder 'splits from husband Seth Cummings after 11 years together'". Daily Mirror.
  32. "Who is Seth Cumming? Ex partner of Judge Rinder". The Gay UK. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
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