Rhonda Wills to Star in New Reality Show on WE Network

Read the original article at the Houston Chronicle.

Imagine a TV reality show that mixes "48 Hours" with "Real Housewives."

That's how Juanita Jackson, a public defender with Harris County, describes "Sisters in Law," a new Houston-based reality show on the WE network starting in March. Jackson stars with five other prominent African-American female attorneys: Jolanda Jones, Vivian King, Rhonda Wills, Monique Payne and Tiye Foley.

All of the women are friends in real life; they range in age from 29 to 56.

Jackson said she had the idea for a reality show several years ago, but she wanted something inspiring that her daughter could watch and be proud of.

In "Sisters in Law," there's no pulling hair or throwing drinks in each others' faces. "We aren't that kind of women," Jackson said.

"It combines the drama we like in a reality show and the grit of reality. We have crazy and interesting lives." The show became reality in late 2013 when Jackson teamed up with friend and actress Kim Coles and producer Stacey McClain of OWN's "Raising Whitley" and shot a trailer. It was eventually picked up by Collins Avenue Productions, which produces Lifetime's "Dance Moms."

They filmed eight episodes last summer, chronicling everything from their personal endeavors to their criminal cases in the court room. The trailer for the show began airing this week.

Eleven local judges are featured, Jackson said, along with City Council members Larry Green, Dwight Boykins, Ron Green and Houston's new mayor, Sylvester Turner. There's even an episode showing Jones, who also starred on CBS' "Survivor," running for her current HISD school board position.

And, of course, there is drama.

"You put six successful women together, there will be some difficulties," Jackson said. "There are personality conflicts, but in the end we stick together."