For decades, Judge Judy Sheindlin has been a household name because of her no-nonsense approach to justice. But how much of the courtroom drama on TV is real? This article goes into detail about Sheindlin’s genuine background as a judge, the legality of her TV court, and the interesting ways that one of TV’s longest-running series works.
Key Takeaways
Judge Judy Sheindlin is a real judge who used to work in New York’s family court system.
Her TV show is like an arbitration, where rulings are final and binding.
The cases are real and come from small claims courts, however the show covers all of the decisions that were made.
The courtroom and audience are mostly made up for TV shows.
From Family Court to TV Stardom
Long before the cameras started rolling, Judith Sheindlin’s rise to prominence on TV began. In 1982, Mayor Ed Koch made her a judge in New York City’s family court. She rapidly became known for her straightforward, no-nonsense attitude. The media took notice of Sheindlin’s direct approach to cases, which typically involved child abuse, domestic violence, and juvenile crime. For example, the Los Angeles Times did a profile of her in 1993, and 60 Minutes did a feature on her. This exposure eventually led to the opportunity for her own TV show, Judge Judy, which started in 1996. Sheindlin left her job as a family court judge to focus on her TV career.
The Mechanics of the TV Courtroom
The name of the show is Judge Judy, but Sheindlin is more like an arbitrator than a judge in the classic sense. This is an important difference: when people agree to arbitration, they give up their right to take the issue to a civil court. The choices she makes are final, and the production company pays any money that is awarded, not the losing side. This setup encourages people to take part because litigants get paid to show up and travel, and plaintiffs are sure to get paid if they win.
Even though the show makes it look like Judge Judy is in a real courthouse, she is not. She is not in New York either. The show is filmed in California on a studio set that looks like a courthouse. The people in the audience are hired extras, usually actors who want to be actors, not real court observers. Researchers find cases by looking at small claims court filings from all around the country and getting in touch with people who would make for good TV.
The Authenticity Debate
People have been talking about whether or not Judge Judy is real for a long time. Sheindlin is a genuine, retired judge, and the cases seen on the show are based on real-life issues, although the show is meant to be entertaining. Before filming, Sheindlin is told about the situations, and her decisions are based on.
Sources
- 12 Admissible Facts About Judge Judy, Mental Floss.
- Is Judge Judy a Real Judge? Why Her Rulings Are Taken Seriously Despite Retiring, People.com.
- Judy Sheindlin | Biography, Judge Judy, & Facts, Britannica.
- 10 Fakest Things About The Show, According To Cast, Crew, & Litigants, Screen Rant.
- Judge Judy’s Law – The Atlantic, The Atlantic.