I played this game on RV road trips with my best friend in middle school. That was 15 years ago. When I discovered it in a gaming store with my husband years later, I got so excited about it he bought it on the spot for me. Our kids now play it with me.
The one long standing problem with this game is the card Callous Guards. It is too strong of a power that makes too many other action cards useless and there is only one counter card to it. I recommend either not playing with it or altering it's effect to only last one round.
Maybe it's so you can put the judge in place so a specific player is forced to take it instead of one that would really benefit them. Maybe they have the lord and then lady is near the front but you can't get to take her but you can get the judge in place to force them to take him instead of getting the lady.... something like that?