Judge Judy recently made headlines for being the highest-paid television personality in the world, pulling in $47 million per year for handing down her own brand of justice. Add that to the $100 million she earned last year for selling rights to her library of shows and her earnings as a producer of "Hot Bench,"and, according to Forbes, she beats second-ranked Ellen Degeneres by more than by $60 million.While her show indeed makes for great entertainment, it doesn’t especially make for a great education about how the courts work.
Here are our top six comparisons between Judge Judy and the real deal, better known to us as small claims court.
#1—Both Judge Judy and real small claims courts gather facts and evaluate testimony.
In both scenarios, plaintiffs file complaints, outlining the events that occurred and reasons they perceive they are entitled to some restitution. Likewise, defendants respond to those complaints, explaining why they dispute the claims against them. The judge, be it Judy or the circuit court judge or court commissioner you get in real life, then weighs the legal merit of each side before ruling.
#2—Judges rely on testimony while Judge Judy relies on contents of a brief complaint.
In a real small claims court, judges will hear both sides, relying on each to deliver the salient points of a dispute. But Judge Judy largely goes off the contents of a brief complaint and uses the courtroom time to fire questions, cutting off and controlling the testimony—all to the amusement of viewers. In real life, judges or commissioners are far more respectful, less dominating and, frankly, a lot less entertaining.
#3—Judge Judy acts as an arbitrator, not a judge.
Judge Judy is actually a retired judge serving as an arbitrator, rendering decisions as opposed to legal judgments. Arbitration is an alternative to litigation which is a dispute that is heard in a court. In litigation you may appeal. In arbitration, an appeal is rare, though it has happened on at least two occasions with decisions rendered by Judge Judy.
#4—You’ll see a lot more business actions in real small claims court.
Judge Judy tends to dwell in the land of interpersonal squabbles, with individuals fighting over pets, perceived loans and a variety of other petty disputes—revealing a preference for humanity’s lowest common denominator. In a real small claims court, you’re more likely to see a wider variety of litigants, representing a wider variety of socioeconomic circumstances and far more businesses and landlords pursuing collection actions. Cases where hospitals, credit cards and landlords are seeking money judgments or evictions are the majority of the suits you’ll see in a typical small claims court.
#5—On Judge Judy, the losing party doesn’t pay.
When you win a lawsuit in a real small claims court, the next step will be collecting the judgment. In some cases the other party will pay right away in order to put the matter behind them. And when the losing party doesn’t pay, the prevailing party must begin a whole new process to collect, whether garnishing wages, collecting collateral or seizing unpaid goods or property (called a replevin).
On Judge Judy, both sides are offered appearance fees, a daily wage and travel expenses for the duration of the taping. Once a decision is made, producers pay it to the victorious party.
#6—Real-life judges and courts encourage more negotiation and take more time.
In real life, justice takes time. In a real-life small claims court action, the process begins with an initial appearance before the court where the judge usually will tell the parties to try harder to work it out or see a mediator. If they still can’t achieve a resolution, the court will set a hearing for a later time. Courts prefer parties negotiate and arrive at their own settlement. Compare that to the 30 minutes (22 if you don’t count commercials) as seen on TV, and it appears you can get a much speedier decision from Judge Judy.
The question is whether you’re willing to endure the humiliation that comes with a Judge Judy appearance and what may be perceived as a judgment rendered without full consideration of the nuances offered via testimony. Even then, you’ll have to muster the interest of producers.
Nevertheless, if you’d like to give your case a try with Judge Judy, clickhere.If, on the other hand, you’d prefer a little dignity along with your justice, you can simply clickhere.
By Tony Gingrasso, Attorney, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, SC. For a small claims lawyer in La Crosse, call him at 608-784-5678.
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FAQs
Who pays the Judge Judy settlements? ›
#5—On Judge Judy, the losing party doesn't pay.
On Judge Judy, both sides are offered appearance fees, a daily wage and travel expenses for the duration of the taping. Once a decision is made, producers pay it to the victorious party.
Also, while the judgments are real, the defendants don't actually have to pay the awards. Actually, the show pays the plaintiff whatever dollar amount Judge Judy awards — though there's a limit of $5,000.
Do losers on people's court have to pay? ›The losing party does not need to pay the judgment, as such. Instead (as is stated in the disclaimer at the end of each show), both parties are paid from a fund (set up by Ralph Edwards-Stu Billett Productions). This fund was based on the amount of the lawsuit claim, but an exact formula was not stated.
Do people agree to be on Judge Judy? ›One key aspect of court TV shows like Judge Judy, is that both parties have to agree to be on the show. If one party doesn't agree, the case will not be featured on the court tv show.
Are the Judgements on Judge Judy real? ›The cases are real -- but the proceeding is an arbitration. Though Judge Judith Sheindlin once presided in a New York courtroom, her role on TV is technically that of an arbitrator, The Consumerist website reports. This goes for other TV judges as well.
What does Judge Judy do with all her money? ›Judge Judy has made several notable investments and acquisitions, showcasing her luxury lifestyle. Her real estate portfolio includes properties such as an $11 million penthouse and a nearby mansion in Naples, Florida.
Has Judge Judy ever been sued? ›Lawsuits. In March 2013, a lawsuit was filed against Sheindlin by Patrice Jones, the estranged wife of Randy Douthit (executive producer of Sheindlin's Judge Judy and later Judy Justice court shows).
How much is an appearance fee on Judge Judy? ›According to Business Insider, the amount is $100 to $500 per day, depending on the case. So there you have it. Yes, people do get paid to be on Judge Judy, and no, the cases are not staged. On 'Judge Judy,' each of the plaintiff and defendant is required to pay an appearance fee.
Why do you have to leave your papers on Judge Judy? ›The participants' travel expenses are paid by the show, as are the monetary settlements. The papers that can't be removed could be anything: their contracts for the show, the settlement agreements, NDAs, etc. The fact that they can't take the paperwork is outlined in the contracts they sign to be on the show.
Is Judge Judy's partner a female? ›Is People's court fake? ›
Though the show is decorated and runs like a real courtroom, it is not a real court or part of any judicial system but instead a form of binding arbitration.
Why is Judge Judy's granddaughter on her show? ›"Judge Judy" aired for 25 years before it came to an end. The tough-talking former New York family court judge's popularity made her the highest-paid personality on TV. When it came time for her second act, the TV star asked her granddaughter to join her as her new law clerk.
How does people's court get cases? ›The show draws on ordinary people who have filed grievances in civil court and have opted to have their cases heard and resolved by Judge Milian. An experienced team of researchers continually canvass courts across the country in search of the most compelling, unique and thought-provoking cases.
Why is it Judy Justice and not Judge Judy? ›Judy Sheindlin has been one of the highest-paid people in TV for years, churning out episode after episode of Judge Judy. But after years of syndication, Sheindlin has shut down the CBS show and moved over to streaming service IMDB TV to make the almost identical new show, Judy Justice.
Does Judge Judy donate money? ›(Reuters) - One of television's most recognizable jurists has donated $5 million to her law school alma mater, establishing a scholarship program for female students. Judy Sheindlin, known to millions as “Judge Judy” after starring for 25 years on her namesake show, made the gift to New York Law School.
Who pays the Judgements on hot bench? ›If you look in the small print all the way at the end of each episode of Hot Bench, you'll see the disclosure about payment. It says, “Monetary awards are paid from a fund maintained by the producer.” It was also reported in Forbes that each person receives a “small” appearance fee.
Why do they have to leave the papers on Judge Judy? ›The participants' travel expenses are paid by the show, as are the monetary settlements. The papers that can't be removed could be anything: their contracts for the show, the settlement agreements, NDAs, etc. The fact that they can't take the paperwork is outlined in the contracts they sign to be on the show.
How much is Judge Judy worth? ›Celebrity Net Worth claims that Judge Judy's net worth is approximately $440 million…for now. And TBH, that is fair since Judy is quite literally daytime television royalty.