We are starting the year by clearing the docket! How many dishtowels does one need in the kitchen? What is the correct pronunciation of aluminum? And can you buy books from [redacted] if your partner is a librarian? Let's discuss. Throughout the years, we've had many a weird dad come through this courtroom with their special systems for doing the dishes or maximizing solar power. It's a new year, so maybe it's time for some of these systems to be put to rest.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on the LA residents of the J Squad and MaxFun. We are safe and doing as ok as possible right now. If you want to give some money to support the fire rescue and recovery efforts, a good place to give is the California Community Foundation. You can find them at calfund.org. If you want to help a family directly impacted, our beloved former colleague Ibarionex Perello and his wife Cynthia lost their home in the Eaton Fire. You can help them by contributing to their GoFundMe.

Jesse and Theresa Thorn's fundraiser to help migrants trapped at the Mexico-US border is still going! They've blown past their initial goal, thanks to our generous audience. Can we make it to $150,000 before JJHo: Road Court ends? Visit alotrolado.org/letsdosomething to help.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Can two frozen cranberry sauces with googly eyes be friends? How long should their freezer friendship last? Julia would like to evict them from her freezer. But her friend, Kristina, says that they have more life in them! Plus: cases about jump scares and Philadelphia transit. Recorded LIVE in Philadelphia!

Tickets are still available for most of the West Coast Road Court dates. Go to maximumfun.org/events for links and more! We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Jesse and Theresa Thorn's fundraiser to help migrants trapped at the Mexico-US border is still going! They've blown past their initial goal, thanks to our generous audience. Can we make it to $150,000 before JJHo: Road Court ends? Visit alotrolado.org/letsdosomething to help.

Thanks to reddit user u/dense-Virus-1692 for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Happy New Year from the J Squad! Our holiday gift to you is an episode fresh from the Members Only Mailbag! We are celebrating with our annual JJHo Office Holiday Party and trying some of our members' favorite holiday recipes. What are our favorite holiday traditions? How much candy do you need to decorate gingerbread houses? Is eggnog and orange soda really good? We will tell you!

Thanks to our generous audience and followers, Jesse and Theresa's fundraising goal for Al Otro Lado flew past $25,000. They are now hoping to reach $75,000! Visit alotrolado.org/letsdosomething to do something helpful for migrants at the US/Mexico border. And thank you to everyone who has donated so far!

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

What a show, recorded LIVE at San Francisco Sketchfest! Should a medical doctor be responsible for diagnosing a friend's shingles in a non-clinical setting? James says no. But, Rob says yes, and he wants JUSTICE! What's more? Our litigants are James Reichmuth and Rob Baedeker from the hilarious sketch group Kasper Hauser! Plus: Feliney Conviction! Should a couple include both of their cats in their annual cat calendar? Even if one of the cats is "not hot enough?"

Tickets are still available for SF Sketchfest 2025, along with most of our other West Coast Road Court dates. Go to maximumfun.org/events for more! We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/mkbecker and u/baltinerdist for naming this week’s cases! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Anne brings the case against her husband, Pete. They both love dressing up in costumes for their annual holiday card. This year, Pete wants to recreate an iconic photo of two famous musicians. This would require Pete to pose in the nude. Anne says NO THANK YOU. For some reason, she doesn’t want to send her mom a picture of her naked husband.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/FortinbrasTheThird for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Poker is a beloved tradition in Joe's family. But Joe's fiancee, Julie, says that his family's poker variants are not real games! So, are Big Murph, Night Baseball, and Under Ten real? Or are Joe's family members making up games on the fly to get Julie's money? Only one can decide!

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/Junk_Mutluck for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Jason and Miguel are surfing buddies in San Diego, California. Jason says that Miguel’s favorite surfing spot is BOGUS! It’s all party waves, full of jakes and groms. Jason doesn’t want to compete for sick waves. He just wants to ride! But Miguel says that the waves at his beach are the TASTIEST! Who's right? Who's wrong? And WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?

Check out this episode on YouTube for Judge Hodgman's Vincent D'onofrio story and for Bailiff Jesse Thorn's shocking story about his dad! We are also on TikTok @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/banjo_solo for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

It's time to clear the docket! Is it ok to say "jawn" if you live outside of Philly? Have you ever done the right thing only for it to go wrong? Popcorn: Yes or no? Judgments on all of this and MORE!

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Viola and Doug have been married for 17 years. Yet, Viola says Doug never proposed to her! How can that be? Plus, movie disputes with Dan McCoy and Stuart Wellington from The Flop House, a dispute about bulk toilet paper, and Social Media Manager Nattie Lopez has a case of her own about Pringles!

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/lovegiblet for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Diane brings the case against her husband, Will. Will grew up attending a summer camp deep in the Ontario wilderness, and last year: he bought it! Diane loves being a camp director and living off the grid except for one thing: the communal outhouse called THE FORT. Diane wants a proper toilet in their cabin, but Will says privacy is impractical! Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/mister_sleepy for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Is it ok to buy home decor for friends? Anna says that Brannon’s apartment is boring. She wants to help him create a decorative vision for his home. But, Brannon is content. He wants Anna to accept the way his home looks, and to stop buying knick knacks for him!

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman.

Thanks to reddit user u/gts_84 for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.