CATHERINE CRIER
Catherine Crier, joined Court TV's distinguished team of anchors in November 1999 and is host of Crier Today, a new thought-provoking legal news show. An experienced former judge, Ms. Crier's show offers insightful commentary and analysis on "front-page" topical legal news stories and focuses on current issues. The Emmy award-winning journalist's midday show addresses the day's leading legal-news stories from across the country with the nation's principal law-makers and influential professionals. In addition to hosting a one-hour daily talk show, Ms. Crier is a contributing anchor for Court TV's primetime and other programming specials.
Prior to joining Court TV, Ms. Crier anchored The Crier Report for Fox News Channel, a live, one-hour interview program airing nightly during which she interviewed the leading newsmakers of the day and celebrities. Ms. Crier joined Fox News after spending three and a half years at ABC News. There, she served as a correspondent and as a regular substitute anchor for Peter Jennings on ABC's World News Tonight, as well as a substitute host for Ted Koppel's Nightline. She also worked as a correspondent on 20/20, the primetime news magazine program. Ms. Crier was awarded a 1996 Emmy for outstanding investigative journalism for her work on the segment "The Predators" which examined nursing home abuses throughout the United States.
Ms. Crier began her television career at CNN. She was co-anchor of both Inside Politics '92, a daily show which followed the 1992 political process, and The World Today, the premier nighttime newscast. Additionally, she hosted Crier & Company, a live, half-hour news talk show. This show included a panel of female policy experts who discussed popular national and international issues.
Prior to her distinguished career in television journalism, Ms. Crier presided over the 162nd District Court in Dallas County, Texas as a State District Judge. When she took the bench in 1984, she became the youngest elected state judge in Texas history. From 1982 to 1984, Ms. Crier was a civil litigation attorney in Dallas and before that, an Assistant District Attorney and Felony Chief Prosecutor for the Dallas County District Attorney's office from 1978 to 1981.
Ms. Crier has received numerous awards and honors throughout her prestigious career. In 1996, she received the Les Femmes du Monde Award which is sponsored by the Dallas Council on World Affairs. The Ex-Students' Association of the University of Texas at Austin awarded her the 1990 Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award. She was recognized as one of TV Guide's "Dynamic Dozen" in 1990. Also in that year, the American Bar Association's Barrister magazine honored her among their "Twenty Young Lawyers Who Make a Difference."
Ms. Crier, who is a native of Dallas, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international affairs from the University of Texas. She received a juris doctor in two and a half years from Southern Methodist University School of Law. Ms. Crier is married and lives in upstate New York. In her free time, she raises and trains Arabian Horses. Ms. Crier also enjoys playing golf and scuba diving.