American Idol (season 13) director after having left at the end of the ninth season to go to "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". In August 2013, Jennifer Lopez's boyfriend Casper Smart stated Lopez would be returning as an "American Idol" judge. On August 22, 2013, it was reported that Jimmy Iovine would not return as the in-house mentor for this season, but he is to be replaced by former judge Randy Jackson. On August 30, 2013, "The Hollywood Reporter" wrote that Harry Connick, Jr. signed a deal to join the panel as the third judge and that Simon Fuller held a party the
Peter Jackson (judge) had been widely criticised in the media for being able to make crucial rulings without public scrutiny. In January 2016 Judge Jackson issued a ruling which appeared at variance with the findings of police investigation which had resulted in no prosecution. Although there had been no prosecution the Judge found that the father had on the balance of probabilities abused the baby before her death. Judge Jackson also criticised the Police and Social Services. In September 2016 Jackson was praised for rephrasing an entire judgement into a 17-page document using simple phrases and emojis in hopes that the children involved