Court show

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A court show (also known as a judge show, legal/courtroom program, courtroom series, or judicial show) is a broadcast programming genre comprising legal dramas and reality legal programming. Court shows present content mainly in the form of legal hearings between plaintiffs (or claimants in the United Kingdom) and defendants, presided over in one of two formats: scripted/improvised with an actor portraying a judge; or, an arbitration-based reality format with the case handled by an adjudicator who was formerly a judge or attorney.

Contents

At present, these shows typically portray small claims court cases, produced in a simulation of a small claims courtroom inside of a television studio. As an exception, from 2020–2021, numerous aspects of this genre were largely forsaken due to COVID-19, such as hearings transpiring from simulated courtroom studio sets. More so than other genres, court shows withstood transformations stemming from the pandemic that were drastic and conspicuous, due to their unorthodox process of interchanging defendants for each individual episode.

Court shows first began in radio broadcasting in the 1930s, starting with The Court of Human Relations , and evolved with the introduction of television in the late 1940s, with programs such as Court of Current Issues , Your Witness , Famous Jury Trials , and more. [1]

Synopsis

The most widely-used techniques in the court show genre are dramatizations, featuring scripted or loosely script-directed hearings, and arbitration-based reality shows. The former remained the technique of choice for roughly six decades. By the late 1990s, however, arbitration-based reality shows became the technique of choice, as they remain today. Dramatizations were either fictional cases - often inspired from factual details in actual cases- or reenactments of actual trials. The role of the judge was often taken by a retired real-life judge, a law school professor or an actor. [2] [3]

Arbitration-based reality shows, on the other hand, typically involve litigants who agree to have their disputes aired on national television and adjudicated by a television show "judge". However, the forum is merely a simulated courtroom constructed within a television studio and not a legitimate court of law. Therefore, said judges are technically arbitrators, and the process depicted is a form of binding arbitration. Most arbitrators presiding in modern court programs have had at least some legal experience, often a conditional requirement to participate in these televised programs. [4] [5]

Court show programs are a staple of daytime television, often airing once or twice every weekday. With minimal production costs (under $200,000 a week, as opposed to entertainment magazines' hefty $1,000,000 [6] ) and an evergreen, episodic format, court shows are easily and frequently rerun. Like talk shows, the procedure of court shows varies based upon the titular host. In most cases, they are first-run syndication programs. In 2001, the genre began to outperform soap operas in daytime television ratings. [7] While all syndicated shows are steadily losing audiences, court shows have the slowest rate of viewer attrition. Thus, by the late 2000s, the number of court shows in syndication had, for the first time, matched the number of talk shows. [8] As reported in late 2012, court programming is the second highest-rated genre on daytime television. [9] The genre's most formidable competitors in syndication have been the sitcom and game show. [10]

Court show genre beginnings

Radio court show era

The beginnings of the court show genre are embedded in radio broadcasting, dating back to the mid-1930s. While television has been available since the 1920s, it would not become the main media venue or even popular until the 1950s. [11] The era from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s is commonly called radio's Golden Age. In the mid-1930s, the Hauptmann trial sparked an upsurge of fascination with dramatized court shows wherein trials and hearings were acted out. As radio fans were denied the vicarious thrill of eavesdropping on the actual courtroom trials, many turned to this venue of entertainment. In these programs, testimonies were limited to the most captivating, explosive portions of the original case. Though there was risk of libel and slander suits in producing court case recreations, this threat was commonly sidestepped by taking from trials of the distant past, with the original participants dead. Prior to 1936, there were only 2 major radio court shows: The Court of Human Relations and Goodwill Court. [2] [12]

Original TV court show genre (1948–95)

Early stages of televised court shows

As television began to exceed radio's popularity, radio broadcast court programming had waned. By 1948, court programming relocated and appeared on television for the first time, officially birthing the television court show genre. In the genre's first stages, television court shows largely followed the same "dramatized" format as radio court shows, though with the new element of physical and visual entertainment. The vast majority of these court shows were depicted in black-and-white.

Dramatized court show

Just as some films are based on true stories, some featured cases on courtroom dramas were based on real-life cases. On the other hand, cases could be entirely fictional, though they often drew on details from actual cases. To recreate and conceptualize cases, staff members working for the court shows researched the country's court cases and took ideas from the ones that seemed captivating and fitting for television. Typically, the role of the judge on these programs was played by a law school professor, an actor, or a retired judge. The roles of litigants, bailiffs, court reporters, and announcers were always performed by actors and actresses. While some of these court shows were scripted and required precise memorization, others were outlined and merely required ad-libbing. In outlined cases, actor-litigants and -witnesses were instructed to never get too far off the angle of the case. [3] [4] [5] Under its dramatized format, the early court show genre resembled legal dramas more than the programs that have come to represent the modern judicial genre.

While the introduction of this technique dates back to the late 1940s, the departure of its popular use occurred in the early 1990s. The technique scarcely existed for a great deal of time, that is, up until Allen Media Group, formerly known as Entertainment Studios, reintroduced the methodology in 2010. Initially airing three court shows as of the 2012-2013 television season: America's Court with Judge Ross , We the People With Gloria Allred , and Justice for All with Judge Cristina Pérez , these series (each with a standard disclaimer shown at the end of these programs), used a filming style and format more closely resembling arbitration-based court shows than the filmed dramas seen in early television. In the first half of the 2012–13 television season, the aforementioned shows were the lowest rated in the judicial genre. [15] [16] While Allen Media Group has been criticized by some for using this technique, [17] [18] as of the 2024-2025 television season, the company owns nine of the thirteen court shows currently airing, all using the identical format. [19]

List of originally traditional court shows

The following court shows all follow a basic setup that represents the most widely used technique from the original era of judicial programming. This setup was a mock trial, which saw dramatized court case proceedings being heard and eventually ruled upon by an actor-judge or actors-jury. Roles were made up of plaintiffs, defendants, and judges; and frequently lawyers, juries, and witnesses. Unlike the present-day where the norm is the handling of civil trials, most of the court shows in this era were criminal trials. The main setting was the courtroom; however, performance and drama had been known to leave the courtroom sporadically for short periods so as to add a story-like quality and fill out the plotline. Some of the shows had thematic cases, such as traffic-themed (Traffic Court) and divorce-themed (Divorce Court).

List of originally nontraditional court shows

Modern TV court show genre (1996–present)

Judy Sheindlin (of highest Nielsen rated courtroom series Judge Judy) with fans Judge Judy with fans.jpg
Judy Sheindlin (of highest Nielsen rated courtroom series Judge Judy ) with fans

Arbitration-based reality court show

Far more realistic than their dramatized predecessors, arbitration-based reality versions do not use actors, scripts, improvisation or recreations. Rather, they feature litigants who have legitimately been served and filed lawsuits, presenting their cases to an adjudicator or panel of adjudicators. In exchange for having their case heard on the show, the litigants must agree to dismiss their genuine cases with prejudice. Behavior and commentary from all participants involved is self-directed, as opposed to production script-directed. As such, these types of court shows fall into a subcategory of reality television. It is for these reasons that many of these particular programs make clear claims to authenticity, as text and voiceovers remind viewers that the cases, litigants, and outcomes are "real". [8]

Despite possessing certain real-life elements, however, arbitration-based reality court shows are less credible than "unaffected" reality court programs, which draw on footage from actual courtrooms holding legal proceedings to capture the legal system as naturally as possible (e.g., Parole , On Trial ). The "judges" in arbitration-based court programs are not presiding as actual judges, but rather arbitrators or adjudicators. For one to be considered an acting judge, they must be operating within a court and thus bound by the rules and regulations of the legal system. Jerry Springer noted that most attorneys can get the "special certification" required to serve as an arbitrator and host a court show with only a day's training: "if you're a lawyer, it's almost automatic unless you've killed someone." [25] The setting in these types of court shows is not a legitimate court of law, but rather a studio set designed to look like a courtroom. In this respect, arbitrators are not legally restricted to mandatory courtroom/legal policies, procedures, and codes of conduct; rather, they can preside in ways intended for entertainment. Moreover, they have the power to act by their own standards and enforce their own rules and regulations. This power is reinforced through agreements signed by the parties prior to the case proceedings. Once waivers have been signed, arbitrators gain jurisdiction over the legal parties, and thus these litigants are bound by the rules and regulations set by the arbitrator. [26] [27]

One study noted, "In exchange for streamlining the process (and likely sacrificing some legal rights), litigants surrender their fates to the media apparatus and experience a justice system ruled by the conventions of television drama and personality of the presiding television judge." [8]

Arbitration-based reality shows guarantee monetary relief if the judgement is won. The show pays the judgment from a fund reserved for each case, paid for by the show's advertising and syndication revenue; the defendant and plaintiff alike are both compensated with an appearance fee. In actual small claims courts, however, winning the judgement is frequently only the first step as judgments do not ensure the victor the money they are owed. Getting the defendant to pay his or her judgment can be taxing, and courts typically do not get involved, which means it is left up to the victors to collect. [28]

Rise and fall of arbitration-based reality court shows

During its first 1981–93 life, The People's Court with Joseph Wapner existed as a nontraditional court show, featuring real-life arbitrations in an era of dramatized court programming. It is the first "arbitration-based reality" court show to air, beginning in 1981. In addition, it is the first popular, long-running "reality" court show. Prior to the arrival of The People's Court, real life elements were next to nonexistent on court shows, with the exception of a few short-lived nontraditional court shows; these precedent reality court shows, however, were only loosely related to judicial proceedings, except for one: Parole (1959), which took footage from real-life courtrooms holding legal proceedings. Since the advent of arbitration-based reality court shows by The People's Court, numerous other duplicate courtroom programs have been produced. Its revolutionizing impact, however, was not immediate. After The People's Court's cancellation in 1993, a second arbitration-based reality court show surfaced the year following, Jones & Jury (1994–95). This was the only arbitration-based reality court show airing during this time and short-lived in its existence. The two other court shows in production during this time were nontraditional programs Kids' Court (1989–94) and Judge for Yourself (1994–95). [7]

The O. J. Simpson murder trial increased public interest in the court system and in video depictions of personal affairs. [29] In 1996, a third arbitration-based reality court show emerged, Judge Judy . [7] Upon debuting, it was described as an "edgier" version of The People's Court, adding attitude to the bench. [30] It was only after the ratings boom of Judge Judy in the late 1990s that a slew of other arbitration-based reality court shows arrived on the scene. In fact, due to the popularity of Judy Sheindlin's show, dramatized court shows became largely a thing of the past. That changed, however, in 2010 when Entertainment Studios by Byron Allen entered the court show field with America's Court with Judge Ross , ultimately delivering eight additional scripted/improvised courtroom programs by 2023. Among the influx of other reality court shows included the resurrections of the previously cancelled and defunct People's Court and Divorce Court (adopting the arbitration-based reality format of its counterparts). Following after Judge Judy, most court shows began using eponymous show titles consisting of the judge's name, and the popularity of impersonal titles dwindled considerably. Judge Judy remained the highest rated court show for its entire 25 season run. It was the highest rated show in all of daytime television programming from 2009 to 2010 television season to its series finale June 2021. Justice David Sills noted in one opinion that "daytime television in the early 21st century has been full of 'judge shows,' where ordinary people bring a dispute for decision before a celebrity jurist." [31]

Divorce Court is the only show in the genre to have utilized both popular formats ("dramatized" and "arbitration reality") during their heyday. Moreover, of all the shows in the modern judicial genre, Divorce Court is the oldest. It has also had the most seasons in the entire genre. The series has had three lives in syndication, from 1957 to 1969 (dramatized); from 1985 to 1992 (dramatized); and currently since 1999 (arbitration-based reality). Altogether, as of the 2021–22 season, the court show has had a grand total of 42 seasons. In second place is The People's Court with 38 seasons and two lives through its 2023 cancellation. With no suspensions in its production history, Judge Judy has had the longest lasting individual life of any reality court show. The program completed its 25th and final season during the 2020–21 television season. [32] Judge Mathis follows with 24 seasons from 1999 to 2023.

As with other daytime television genera, the court show began to see declining clearance in the early 2020s in the face of declining daytime viewership and a weakening market for syndication in general. Major television station ownership groups have opted to expand local newscasts, relying upon the 24 hour news cycle to recycle content from its existing news broadcasts to create less expensive content, thus reducing the available windows for syndicated programs, which in turn draw lower advertising revenues. Warner Bros. cancelled both of its longest-running entries in the genre, The People's Court and Judge Mathis, in response to these changes. [33]

List of present-day traditional court shows

The following court shows all follow a basic setup that represents the most widely used approach in the present-day judicial genre. Beyond the use of arbitration, other key elements include a simulated courtroom as the main setting in these programs (in some of these court shows, an area just outside the courtroom is regularly used to tape litigant feedback after their case), and one to four hearings typically take up the entirety of the program. The court cases that are captured all operate in the form of small claims court. For example, only small-scale civil matters are heard and ruled on, such as back rent, unpaid personal loans or wages, minor property damage, minor consumer complaints, etc. As another example of the small claims format, relief that is sought is money or recovery of personal property. As another example, litigation is conducted in the form of a bench trial (as opposed to its more common counterpart, the jury trial) as only the court show's arbiter may rule on the dispute. Another example, there are no lawyers present and litigants must defend themselves. An additional example, the maximum award limit is $5,000.

As indicated below, the only traditional court shows still in original episodes from the 1990s or prior are The People's Court (1981) and Judge Mathis (1999), [34] thus making Judge Mathis the longest running court show still in its first run that hasn't had any temporary production halts or recasting of the show's arbitrator.

  • Judge Judy (Syndicated, Big Ticket Entertainment, CBS Television Distribution, 1996–2021) A court show presided over by former Manhattan Family Court Judge Judy Sheindlin. Sheindlin pioneered the genre's tough adjudicating approach. Big Ticket marketed the program to potential buyers as one that offered "justice with an attitude" when it entered first-run syndication in September 1996. Her reputation as being tough with a crusty and cheeky nature led to an L.A. Times article in 1993, followed by a 60 Minutes segment, and then her retirement in May 1996 from the bench and the television show in September of that year. Her saucy "on your best day, you're not as smart as I am on my worst day" approach quickly became popular once on television. Sheindlin's court proceedings were very controlled, matter-of-fact, less dramatic and less "Springer-like" than other court shows mainly due to Sheindlin's strict, no-nonsense approach. This could be exampled in Sheindlin's constant coercion of rules, as well as her coercion of the litigants to be concise and relevant. Of all the television judges, she was the only one to never use a gavel though has threatened to use it on a few occasions. Three years into her run, Sheindlin was generating US$75 million in revenue for Big Ticket. Then her ratings doubled. Judge Judy dominated the genre's ratings from its series premiere to its series finale. Moreover, since before The Oprah Winfrey Show left the air, Judge Judy was both the top-rated daytime television program and syndicated program. In the 2011–12 and 2013–14 seasons, as well as the 2014–15 season through its finale season in 2020–21, Judy was the top rated program in all of syndication. [35] [36] It's also worthy to note that the two court shows that outnumber Judge Judy's seasons, Divorce Court and The People's Court, have lasted via multiple reincarnations and shifting arbitrators. Thus, Sheindlin also has a record for being the court show genre's longest serving arbitrator, a distinction that earned her a place in the Guinness World Records in September 2015 during the show's 20th season. She is the first arbitrator or judge to preside over a court show for 20 seasons, and later 25 seasons. Moreover, Judge Judy holds the longest lasting individual life of any courtroom program due to the cancellation(s) of Divorce Court and The People's Court (the only 2 shows in the genre that outnumber Judge Judy's seasons). The courtroom series concluded with the 25th anniversary season during the 2020-21 television season. Sheindlin, however, resumes her legal dispute handling through courtroom spin-off series Judy Justice .
  • The People's Court (Syndicated, R.C. Entertainment, RDF Television, Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Productions, Warner Bros. Television Distribution, 1981–93, 1997–2023) When The People's Court was revived for a 13th season some 4 years after its cancellation, it was brought back without Joseph Wapner. Rather, former lawyer and Mayor of New York Ed Koch was presiding over the program, lasting two seasons (1997–99); this was followed by former New York Supreme Court Justice Jerry Sheindlin, who is the husband of Judge Judy Sheindlin, lasting for one and a half seasons (1999–00, winter 2001). Following Sheindlin, former Florida State Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Milian (2001–2023) took over the bench and ratings on the show finally saw improvement. (Portraits of all the show's previous arbiters as well as Wapner's bailiff, Rusty Burrell, hang in the hallway where litigant interviews are held [37] ). By completion of the 2012–13 season, Milian reached 12+1⁄2 seasons presiding over the series, outlasting Joseph Wapner and officially making her the longest reigning judge of The People's Court. As the show's youngest and first female arbiter, Milian is very animated, at times gesticulating and motioning wildly from the bench. In addition, she often departs from the bench to interact with litigants. Milian also displays a good-natured, lively sass while interacting with the litigants; however, she is mostly noted for her soundness of judgment and levelheadedness. [38] Milian has observed that a majority of her cases are emotionally charged for the litigants, not about the money but the principle. Connecting to its title, The People's Court returns from all of its commercial breaks with a segment in which a crowd of random people, shown outdoors, provide feedback on the ongoing case. [35] [36] Under Milian, the program has become the genre leader in the Daytime Emmy Award-winning arena, winning 5 times by June 2023.
  • Judge Joe Brown (Syndicated, Big Ticket Entertainment, CBS Television Distribution, 1998–2013) A court show produced by the same team responsible for Judge Judy and taped directly beside Sheindlin's courtroom set, within the same television studio. Brown's half-hour courtroom series dealt with small claims cases and was the second highest rated court show for its entire 15-year run, behind Judge Judy. Most of the time, the cases revolved around relationships. The series consisted of a court reporter who introduced the program, provided regular updates returning from commercials, and closed out the program. The court show tended to add striking new features for each successive season, such as a season in which a system whereby the judge could poll the audience and receive their input was introduced. Brown is a retired Shelby County State Criminal Court judge. For the most part, Brown had a languid and perfunctory nature about him while hearing cases, particularly while gathering all the facts and hearing the conflicting stories. Occasionally, however, once he suspected a certain party of being guilty, Brown became particularly cantankerous with them shown in his irritated, quarrelsome communication style. Brown also frequently subjected certain litigants to harsh tirades and judgmental commentary, sometimes even while up on his feet, pacing around the bench area. The harshest of his tirades were delivered to males on the series. Brown was criticized for these behaviors as "lacking self-control"; he was quoted as once roaring, "You get the devil out of my courtroom! That's the end of it! Case dismissed." [35] [36] [39] [40]
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  • Judge Mills Lane (Syndicated, Paramount Domestic Television now known as CBS Television Distribution, 1998–2001) A real-life Nevada District Court judge for more than eight years and a professional boxing referee with more than 100 championship fights under his belt, Mills Lane was supremely cut out for his TV role when the series premiered in August 1998. The court show was taped at WPIX-TV and later at CBS Broadcast Center, both in New York City. The court show was in many respects a typical example of its genre, with Lane presiding over small-claims cases for which a $3000 jurisdictional limit had been imposed. What set Judge Mills Lane apart from the rest of the courtroom shows, however, was Mills Lane himself: Although he claimed not be as "strict" as rival TV jurist Judith Sheindlin, he was nonetheless as tough and sassy as they come, sometimes even fierce and frightening presence. This was especially to home viewers, particularly at points when the camera would zoom in on the Maximum Mills mug as Lane chewed out litigants. He started out each case with his famous locution: "Let's get it on." Reportedly, whenever Lane began shaking his gavel at a plaintiff or defendant, you could be sure all "hell" was going to break loose. On more than one occasion, the bailiff would be forced to clear the courtroom in the roughneck manner of a nightclub bouncer. Lane would sometimes let loose with so rapid verbal barrage that no one knew what he was talking about but they knew he was mad. Ratings for Judge Mills Lane were never anything to brag about however. Despite this, the series managed to hang around for three years; reportedly, the only reason it was cancelled was because viewers were "repelled by the new season three theme song". [12]
Shannon & Judge Mathis.jpg
  • Judge Mathis (Syndicated, Telepictures Productions, Syndicated Productions, Warner Bros. Television Distribution, 1999–2023) a court show with an uncustomary longevity, running 24 seasons. During its final 2 seasons, it reigned as longest running court show in production that hadn't relied on temporary cancellations-turned-revivals and judge casting changes. The court show is described as bringing a unique perspective with a judge that blended sternness and humor. Judge Mathis is a daily, hour-long, NAACP Image Award winning, Daytime Emmy Award-winning program. The show's star, former Michigan Superior Court and civil rights activist Judge Greg Mathis became the longest reigning African American court show judge by his 16th season during the 2014–15 television year. Moreover, he is the second longest serving arbitrator in the court show genre, just behind Judith Sheindlin. His program also holds a record of having the second longest individual life of any court show and reached 20 seasons in September 2018, a rarity for court programs. Early on in the series, Mathis highlighted his troubled youth turned success story through his theme song as a way of motivating and inspiring his audiences (especially youth audiences) to believe that there is no adversity they cannot pick themselves up from. It is from his background that Mathis derived much of his courtroom formula for this program. Up-close and personal in approach, Judge Mathis prompted litigants to recount their case as far as intimate and emotional details go, before getting into what's directly pertinent to the lawsuit. In this manner, cases on Judge Mathis tended to go deeper and to more revealing places than that of most other court shows. Having a mixture of comedy and sternness about him, Mathis was as fun-filled and humorous as he was lecturing and shaming towards wrong choices and misconduct: when he wasn't expressing his resentment over the litigants' wrongful actions pertaining to the case, his courtroom audience was regularly heard in fits of laughter. Mathis sometimes even bantered directly at audience members. [35] [36] Mathis has also been noted to shift between formal and informal speaking styles during his cases, as examples, having wisecracked, "Y'all out here having catfights, tryin' to become jailbirds," and "Don't nobody know what choo' did. Shoot! Choo' just didn't get caught." [41] It was announced in the latter part of its 24th season that that would be its final season.
  • Judge Hatchett (Syndicated, Sony Pictures Television, 2000–08) A court show that delivered a diverse mix of family court, juvenile court and unusual small claims cases. Each case on the show was explored in-depth, which often brought forth hidden, unpredictable angles that cut to the heart of the conflict. What distinguished the series apart from other shows in the genre was its trademark "intervention segments". These were creative sentences handed out by the arbitrator to help litigants understand the implications of their actions and learn how to better handle problems. These reality-check experiences were shot on location around the country from the waters in New York's harbor to the streets of Los Angeles's inner city and offer guidance that can be blunt, confrontational, enriching or motivational. The cornerstone of the series was retired Georgia State Court Chief Judge Glenda Hatchett. Hatchett started out on the program as a gentle and compassionate jurist before later becoming a scurrilous and scalding disciplinarian. Hatchett came up with her innovative sentencing approach during her years as head of one of the country's largest juvenile court systems. [35] [36]
  • Curtis Court (Syndicated, King World Productions, 2000–01) A court show presided over by James Curtis. Curtis, a former California prosecutor, ran his TV court with a kinder, gentler hand than those of his competitors. Although a traditional court show, the series stood out for its use of expert witnesses, single-trial episodes, and on-location examinations of evidence. The program was shot in New York and used pending cases from that area. Uniquely, Curtis acknowledged himself as an arbitrator as opposed to a judge. He was known for looking beyond the result to find the source of the problem. After the cancellation of Curtis Court, he became an anchor on Court TV. [35] [36]
  • Texas Justice (Syndicated, 20th Television, 2001–05) A court show that dispensed Texas-style justice. Larry Joe Doherty ran the series as arbitrator. Doherty is a senior partner with Houston's Doherty & Wagner and a former Houston attorney. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Houston in 1970 and was licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas that same year. "I want to educate the public that there is a way to get your disputes resolved quickly," Doherty said of his courtroom debut. "I'm going to try and dispense broad justice without harshness or hostility." The program focused on a cross-section of relationship and general dispute cases from the Southern and Southwestern regions of the country. Living up to the court show's title, the program's look, music and style evoked a country rural presence and cowboy atmosphere. To boot, Doherty had an innate country drawl and a Walker, Texas Ranger like aura about him. As arbitrator of the series, Doherty was both criticized and praised as being "folksy". He has also been criticized for making "smart aleck wisecracks" on the series. Doherty addressed litigants by their first names and ran a "rowdy" courtroom with audience members hooting, hollering, laughing, sighing, and groaning. In addition, the multitude of camera shots on the program's eye-rolling baliff, William Bowers, was also criticized. [35] [36] [39] [42]
  • Judge Alex (Syndicated, 20th Television, 2005–2014) A court show presided by former police officer, attorney, and Florida Circuit Court Judge Alex E. Ferrer. When Ferrer took the job as television arbitrator, he not only became the second Hispanic arbiter on English-language television (Marilyn Milian of The People's Court, who's also a Cuban American, is the first) but the first and thus far only former police officer to preside over a court show. At 19, Ferrer became Miami-Dade County's youngest police officer when he was hired by the city of Coral Gables. At 24, he graduated from the University of Miami with a law degree and left the police force to practice law. At 34, he was elected judge, making him the youngest circuit court judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, where he oversaw family and criminal cases. While Ferrer handled cases that ranged from armed robberies to kidnappings and first-degree murders, his cases on Judge Alex are described as far tamer, entertaining, and by the arbiter himself as oftentimes "bizarre". Every three weeks, he taped 10 cases per day over three days in Houston, where the show was based (once Texas Justice was cancelled, its courtroom set and theme song was used for Judge Alex); Ferrer then flew back to his home in Miami, where he lives with his wife and two children. According to Variety magazine, Judge Alex averaged 3 million viewers per week. Personable and sensible with a sense of humor, Ferrer is less harsh and vocal than some of his judicial counterparts, though he does keep a firm control over his courtroom and does not tolerate misconduct. [35] [36] The arbiter had been characterized as "handsome" and given to telling it like it is. Ferrer's rulings were often prefaced by his explanation of the law at hand to his audience. [6]
  • Cristina's Court (Syndicated, 20th Television, 2006–2009) Cristina Pérez had hosted the very popular court show, La Corte de Familia (Family Court), for Telemundo prior to Cristina's Court. The former lawyer was marketed as the first TV judge to ever cross over from the Spanish-language to English-language market. Cristina's Court focused on both small claims cases, conflicts, and legal arguments between families, couples, friends, business partners, and co-workers. Pérez's decisions were injected with her own morals and family values. The series was not only the first in the genre to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program but the only court show to win the prize more than once, winning three consecutive years in a row, one of those years even after the show's cancellation. According to the Syndicated Network Television Association, Perez ranked as the second most trustworthy and influential host in syndication among adults 18–34, ranking just behind Oprah Winfrey. [43]
  • Judge Maria Lopez (Syndicated, Sony Pictures Television, 2006–08) Like her contemporary, Judge Alex Ferrer, Maria Lopez is a refugee of Castro's Cuba, arriving in the US at the age of 8 and learning to speak fluent English within three months. In 1988, Lopez became the first Latina appointed to the Massachusetts bench and two years later, the first person of Latin origin on the state's Supreme Court. Lopez was forced to resign the bench for refusing to apologize for alleged judicial misconduct after convicting a transgender defendant of sexual assault. Her show used the same production staff responsible for the long-running Judge Hatchett. within a month of its debut, Judge Maria Lopez was earning higher ratings than any other new syndicated offering. The series was unable to sustain this early momentum and was cancelled after only two seasons. [12]
  • Judge David Young (Syndication, Sony Pictures Television, 2007–09) A court show presided over by retired Miami-Dade County Judge David Young, the first openly gay television "judge". Playing off this fact, much of the arbitrator's behavior was comically camp as he dealt out such warnings as "There's only one queen in this courtroom and that's me," and "You go girl." In fact, the show's tagline was "Justice with a snap" as the judge regularly finger-snapped the litigants upon his making of sassy remarks. Young was criticized for this behavior as perpetuating gay stereotypes. However, he insisted that he was intending to be a role model for LGBT youth. Zany and full of courtroom antics, David Young would randomly break out into show tunes during the hearings and was rarely very serious on the bench. In regards to his courtroom antics, Young described himself as merging his two dream jobs of theater and the law and never being able to get away with the behavior he got away with in his television courtroom in a real-life courtroom. He had a strong and playful chemistry with his bailiff Tawya Young who shared his last name but had no relation to him. [44]
  • Judge Jeanine Pirro (CW Network, 2008–09, syndication, 2010–11, Telepictures/Warner Bros.) A court show that was later shortened to Judge Pirro by the 2nd season. The daily, 60-minute series was taped in Chicago and headed by former District Attorney and judge of Westchester County, New York, Jeanine Pirro. Pirro had risen to TV prominence as a legal commentator for the Fox News Channel and was the Republican nominee for New York Attorney General in 2006. Pirro's many years on the bench, specializing in domestic abuse and sex-offense cases, did not seem to prepare her for the shocking revelations made in her television courtroom. In fact, the first episode was a rape case, leaving the judge dumbstruck. Pirro spent much of her time on the show shouting "Let's back up a minute!" as litigants popped out one surprise after another. According to an analysis of court shows, the series came off as contrived and the judge's responses sounded rehearsed. And at times, it appeared as though Pirro's responses had been taped separately, rather than during the actual testimony (the producers however insisted that show was totally unrehearsed). [12]
  • Family Court with Judge Penny (Syndicated, Program Partners/Sony Pictures Television, 2008–09) Retired Fulton County, Georgia Judge Penny Brown Reynolds was discovered by TV producers after she was shown on Dr. Phil . Reynolds was one of four daughters raised in hardship and poverty in a tough New Orleans neighborhood by a single mother. She never met her father and grew up watching her mother violently abused by her boyfriends. Reynolds soon became a single mother herself and the patterns in her mother's life began repeating themselves in her own life as well. These circumstances inspired her to enter law where she earned three degrees, all with honors. When Hollywood came a calling, Reynolds was in the middle of her seminary studies where she was earning her Master of Divinity degree. She told TV producers any future show would have to wait until she finished seminary. [45] The cases on the court show involved matters that affected families, from husbands vs. wives to parents suing children. [46] A more sentimental and deeper installment of the court shows, Family Court with Judge Penny was promoted as a show that took the viewer past resolving a lawsuit but to the hearts of the matters, repairing and mending broken families and relationships. Acting as more of a psychologist, Reynolds possessed a soulful, tenderhearted, nurturing, and empowering nature. [47]
  • Judge Karen (Syndicated, Sony Pictures Television, 2008–09) Karen Mills-Francis hailed from the same Miami, Florida, jurisdiction as fellow television arbitrator David Young. In fact, it was David Young who recommended Mills-Francis to his court show producer as the next rising judicial star. In 2000, Karen was appointed administrative judge in Miami-Dade County. She is also a foster mother and former public defender of underprivileged adults and minors. Few court shows could lay claim to being as colorful as Judge Karen. As examples, the show intro consisted of Mills-Francis remarking "Justice isn't always black and white"; the arbiter is black with blonde hair; the arbiter wore a burgundy court dress; and the arbiter sat before a light purple backdrop. Moreover, Judge Karen introduced several innovations to the court show genre, such as witnesses being sequestered until summoned (so as to prevent witnesses from simply playing off the testimony of their comrade), litigants cross-examining the witnesses, etc. Several of the cases brought before Mills-Francis allowed her to plead the cause of children's rights. On the program, Mills-Francis was known for her heartfelt caring, as well as her humorous and catchy sass, often delivered in the form of homilies such as "God protects babies and fools—and you're no baby." And whenever a litigant took to behaviors Karen found objectionable, she was quick to deliver saucy scoldings, such as "Stay in your lane! I know how to drive." [12]
  • Swift Justice with Jackie Glass (Syndicated, CBS Television Distribution, 2010–12) A court show originally known as Swift Justice with Nancy Grace, it captured HLN host and former Fulton County, Georgia prosecutor Nancy Grace resolving small claims disputes. The show debuted with strong ratings. [48] Unlike other court shows, Grace did not don a court dress and operated without the use of a gavel and bailiff. Moreover, the show had its arbitrator stand behind a glass podium, Grace adding to this by roaming about the studio. Grace was known for her fast rulings without allowing the litigants a word in edgewise, reportedly leading to several lawsuits against the program by its litigants. [49] After the first season, Grace amicably bowed out of the series due to CBS' decision to move production from Atlanta (where Grace lives) to Los Angeles. [50] After this, Jackie Glass (former Nevada Eighth District Court/Clark County judge, who sentenced former NFL star O. J. Simpson for armed robbery and kidnapping in 2008) took over as arbitrator of the series. [51] The court show used technology, polygraph testing, and expert witness to help the arbitrator in settling disputes. The series was not renewed for another season under Glass, cancelled due to low ratings.
  • Judge Karen's Court (Syndicated, Litton Entertainment, 2010–2011) In Karen Mills-Francis' return to the judicial genre after the cancellation of her previous courtroom series, she was promoted as not having lost any amount of pizzazz or razzle-dazzle. In fact, upon returning to the genre, she snapped, "Ya'll thought I had left the bench for good. Ha! I was on vacation." Promoted as razor sharp with plenty of style, Karen's compassion and catchy sass from her previous court show were highlighted in promotions for her second courtroom series: "I can run a circle around you faster than you realized I started drawing a circle." In keeping with the arbitrator's trademarked innovativeness, Judge Karen's Court also introduced new elements, such as "You Be The Judge": A segment in which gadgets are used by the courtroom audience to weigh in on who they think should win the case just before Mills-Francis' ruling. In spite of promotions to colorfulness, however, her second series courtroom and overall look was much duller and drearier than her previous courtroom. Mills-Francis' second try was unfortunately unsuccessful, and the series was cancelled after only one season, despite reports of renewal for a second season. [52]
  • L'Arbitre (V television network, 2011–present) A French language court show adjudicated by Canadian and former family law lawyer Anne-France Goldwater. Goldwater is renowned for helping legalize same-sex marriage in Canada. Promoted as Quebec's version of Judge Judy, Goldwater is noted for a humorously rough and abrasive manner and rapid wit on the bench. Goldwater is, however, critical of Judge Judy, stating "I love Judy Sheindlin, but I don't like the direct insults to people. My job is not to sit there and be disdainful and say 'You fool. What are you doing here.'" The show features petty small claims disputes, such as couples arguing over who gets the big screen TV and neighbors with broken fence issues. Beyond the entertainment value, Goldwater has stated one of her goals is to show people how to resolve petty issues and squabbles without resorting to overburdening the legal system. [53]
  • Judge Rinder (ITV, ITV Studios, 2014–2020) An hour-long British reality court show, it stars the criminal barrister Robert Rinder as the arbitrator. Rinder oversees cases about disputes on a variety of different issues in his small claims courtroom. Issues have involved everything from money and pets to issues involving serious relationship breakdowns and conflicts over wills. By the end of Rinder's first season (or "series" as it is worded in British English), Rinder had already earned the title of "Daytime King" for racking up high ratings. Filmed in Manchester, Judge Rinder has been lauded for his entertainment value as well as engaging the British audiences with their own legal system, bringing small court proceedings into popular culture. Explained Rinder, "The show has triggered discussion about the legal issues we can be faced with, across the board. You may have a consumer rights issue – ‘can I take this back? What are my rights against the company?’ Or I lent money to a friend and now I need it back. Or I’ve got a deadbeat ex-husband and how do I get him to pay the child support he owes?’ Then there's personal injury, contracts; just about everything." [54]
  • Judge Faith (The Torante Company, Trifecta Entertainment & Media, 2014–2018) A court show that features Faith Jenkins, a former New York City Prosecutor and legal analyst for MSNBC as the judge. [55]
  • Judge Romesh (Dave (TV Channel), Hungry Bear Media, 2018–2019) is a comedy court show hosted by Romesh Ranganathan.
  • Judge Jerry (NBCUniversal Television Distribution, 2019–2022) NBCUniveral, which has historically syndicated tabloid talk shows but had never distributed an arbitration court show, entered the genre with Judge Jerry. It replaced the long-running tabloid talk show Jerry Springer and shared its host, former Mayor of Cincinnati and media personality Jerry Springer. [56]
  • Chrissy's Court (Quibi, 2020; Roku Channel, 2021-2022) Model Chrissy Teigen oversaw this arbitration court show originally produced exclusively for mobile device audiences. Teigen's mother, knonw as "Pepper Thai," served as bailiff. The show was billed as a comedy but operated within the same format as non-comedic arbitration court shows. [57]
  • Relative Justice (Syndicated, Wrigley Media Group, Bloom 'N Apple Entertainment, 2021–2023 a court show presided over by Texas, California, and New York State Licensed Attorney Judge Rhonda Wills.
  • Judy Justice (Streamed, IMDb TV which was retitled Amazon Freevee, Amazon Studios, Sox Entertainment, 2021–present) A spin-off of the successful, top Nielsen-rated courtroom series Judge Judy , this courtroom strip brings back famed television jurist Judith Sheindlin as she presides over arbitration-based legal proceedings. During its preproduction stages, Sheindlin promised not to change up her trademarked crusty demeanor and tough style, bringing the same judicial approach that made Judge Judy a success. Sheindlin was identified in the media as toning down her no-nonsense instruction for briskness, concision and relevancy, instead prying and inquiring for litigants to expand into decorative detail. The spin-off was advertised as a "more hip" rendition of Judge Judy and presents from a courtroom set similar to the former, but notably more modern and upscale. In a move unprecedented for the standard court show, the series is the first to air new episodes from a streaming service. In a move pioneered by the albeit short-lived series Judge Karen , Sheindlin is also absent of the traditionally black judicial robe that she presided in on Judge Judy, replacing this with a burgundy colored robe. Leading into the series premiere, Judy Justice was met with heavily publicized and widespread criticism centrally over the absence of Judge Judy program Bailiff Byrd, and shortly thereafter, a lack of differentiation from Judge Judy. The media slammed the program as not having its own identity, rather existing as a pale imitation of Sheindlin's Judge Judy. The series was also heavily critiqued for the move to air through a streaming service–and what was slammed as an unpopular streaming service (IMDb TV) at that–as opposed to first-run syndication like Judge Judy. In October into November 2021, Byrd addressed the sharpest criticisms against the program, which related to his absence: he issued public statements to the media that indicated that he was not at all communicated with about the spin-off series by Sheindlin throughout the entire 25th season of Judge Judy. In July 2021, by the completion of Judge Judy, Byrd reached out to Sheindlin to inquire if he would have a position in the spin-off program, which she addressed as negative for salary reasons. Byrd expressed to feelings of dismay, as according to him never had the opportunity to negotiate a lower salary. Ultimately, Byrd wished Sheindlin well and expressed gratitude to her for opportunities. [58] [59] Following season 1 of Judy Justice, it was announced that Byrd would be holding the role of bailiff for another court show produced by Sheindlin that is currently in development and to be streamed on Amazon Freevee as well. The court show, entitled Tribunal, will be presided over by now former Hot Bench judges, Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango, along with Sheindlin's son, former district attorney Adam Levy. [60] By the conclusion of season 1, it was reported that Judy Justice had set a record for number of streaming hours viewed on Amazon Freevee, and was thus granted a second season, which began on November 7, 2022.
  • Judge Steve Harvey (ABC, Walt Disney Television, Den of Thieves, 2022–present) an arbitration-based comedy courtroom limited-run series presided over by Steve Harvey. Atypical to most courtroom programs, the show airs in prime time as opposed to daytime. Also atypical to most court show programming, Harvey does not have a judgeship or jurisprudence background, nor does he hold any legal licenses, boasting in the show's title sequence how he is without need of any of this to resolve disputes. Rather, the court show is billed on Harvey using "good old commonsense" to resolve small-claim disputes, big-claim disputes, and everything in between. In January 2022, Harvey revealed during a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he has been formally chastised by ABC executives for insulting language towards the show's litigants, referring to one in particular as "stupid" during the course of the proceedings. In sharing this news, Harvey objected to political correctness and cancel culture, complaining that celebrities can't say anything any longer. [61]

List of present-day nontraditional court shows

As with the original court programming era, the modern era has seen a wide variety of unconventional court shows. These are shows that do not take the typical format and procedure of most of the shows within today's judicial genre. For the most part, court shows mimic the average bench trial in small claims court, tackling miscellaneous civil matters. Unconventional court shows, on the other hand, have their own, very distinct twist that separates them dynamically from traditional courtroom programs and each other as well. Among the list of nontraditional court shows that have been produced include:

To date, the only court show that is currently on the air since before the 2000s is Divorce Court (1957), the court show genre's longest running program.

Daytime Emmy Awards

The judicial genre became a category in the Daytime Emmy Awards for the first time in 2008, titled Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program, removing them from competition against daytime talk shows in the previously more generic Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category.

Up until 2012, all of the annually presented awards went to freshman court shows that had only recently emerged into the genre at the time of their rewarding. Cristina's Court (only lasting three seasons, from 2006 to 2009) was the first court show to win a Daytime Emmy Award as well as the first court show to win more than once and consecutively three times, holding this record for nine years. This albeit short-lived court show won the Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program Award in 2008 (two seasons into its run), 2009, and 2010 (the series cancelled by this period).

Judge Pirro (2008–2011) won in 2011, upon being cancelled just two seasons into its run. Last Shot with Judge Gunn (2011–present) won in 2012, only a season into its run. To date, this represents the earliest into production that any court show has ever received a Daytime Emmy. Moreover, Last Shot is the first nontraditional courtroom series to receive a Daytime Emmy.

On June 14, 2013, however, Judge Judy became the first long-running, highly rated court show to receive an Emmy, which landed on its 15th nomination, the court show nominated numerous times before this category existed and competing with miscellaneous talk shows. Judge Judy went on to win 2 additional Daytime Emmy Awards, later along with The People's Court, both matching Christina's Court. Judge Mathis is the first African American presided court show to win the honor, succeeded by Lauren Lake's Paternity Court (cancelled a year later). In June 2021, The People's Court secured its 5th win for the category, which now gives it the most wins for the court show genre. By June 2022 when Judy Justice won for its first season, Judy Sheindlin became the only arbitrator to win this category for more than one television program, both her 2 court shows. The People's Court would win the 2023 honor in its last season in production with Marilyn Millian.

Diversity

Unlike the original era of court shows, the 2nd era consists of a great deal of gender, ethnic and racial diversity. In 2001, reportedly seven of the ten judges were male; however, six of these judges were Black, four Black males and two Black females. Four were White. Since 2008, female television judges have outnumbered their male counterparts. Additionally, four judges were Latina/o and another four were Black. Judge Judy Sheindlin and Judge David Young (an openly gay male) were the only non-Hispanic whites. As of the 2025-2026 television season, five of the fourteen court shows in production feature male judges such as Kevin A. Ross of America's Court with Judge Ross. Eleven of the shows either star or feature a Black arbiter, two are hosted by Latinas, and three are hosted by or feature White arbiters.

It has been argued that television judge demographics can distort images of real-life judge demographics. Real-life judge demographics show sharp contrasts to television judge demographics. Women are only 18.6% of federal judges and about 20% of state judges. Only 3% of judges are black in the United States. Overwhelmingly, American judges are White males. A study noted that "television court shows may reduce support for increased racial and gender diversity on the bench by sending a message to the public that United States benches are already diverse." [90] [91]

Criticisms and acclaim

See also

References

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