American Idol (season 12) American Idol (season 12) The twelfth season of "American Idol" premiered on January 16, 2013, as part of the mid-season of the 2012–13 network television season. Ryan Seacrest returned to host. Randy Jackson returned for his twelfth season as judge and was joined by new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban, who replaced Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. The season was the third to have four judges, after the eighth and ninth seasons. It was also the first season in the show's history where all the finalists of one gender (male) were eliminated before any finalists of the
Peter Jackson (judge) would be able to read and comprehend it themselves. The ruling is thought to be the first in English legal history to incorporate an emoji, or web symbol, to explain a point of evidence. In October 2016 Judge Jackson ruled on the case of a 14-year-old girl (referred to in the judgment as JS) dying of cancer. The judgment was technically that the mother should be allowed to decide about disposal of her body on death. The Judge visited the girl in hospital, at her request, shortly before her death. Judge Jackson ruled 'with real regret' that the Court could