[Balin] The sentence is Beth

[Balin]

Beth, a judge, once penned friends in cells in front of a small crowd, and brags about it years later. Yet her friends congratulated her for this. Why?

OOATP rules apply

I still think this will go quickly

[TDGperson]

Is the name Beth significant?

[Balin]

Is the name Beth significant? No, nor is she the same Beth who featured in a previous puzzle of mine (this one is FMOI)

[Doriana]

Are the "friends" in the first sentence the same people as "her friends" in the second sentence?

[Enjay]

Does "penned friends in cells" mean that she trapped her friends in small rooms?

[Balin]

re the "friends" in the first sentence the same people as "her friends" in the second sentence? No, FA

Does "penned friends in cells" mean that she trapped her friends in small rooms? No

[Enjay]

Does "penned" refer to trapping/imprisoning? Writing? Using a pen?

[Hobbsicle]

Cells: in a spreadsheet? In a crossword puzzle? Other rectangles on paper? Biological cells?

[Doriana]

Is it at all relevant to the puzzle that she is a judge?

[Balin]

Does "penned" refer to trapping/imprisoning? Writing? This Using a pen? And this

Cells: in a spreadsheet? In a crossword puzzle? This Other rectangles on paper? Biological cells?

Is it at all relevant to the puzzle that she is a judge? No

[trebor]

Was the sitcom Friends an answer to one of the clues?

[Balin]

Was the sitcom Friends an answer to one of the clues? Either the sitcom, or the dictionary word - doesn't matter which.

All I need is the "bragging" bit and this will be done.

[Doriana]

Did she win a crossword competition?

[Balin]

Did she win a crossword competition? That's it.

****SPOILER****

Judge Beth once won a crossword competitions with the answer "FRIENDS," penning the word in the cells of the grid. She's very proud of her win.