Judge Judy is a long-running American arbitration-based reality court show presided over by Judge Judy Sheindlin, a retired Manhattan family court judge.[3] The show features Sheindlin adjudicating real-life small claim disputes within a simulated courtroom set.[4] All parties involved must sign contracts agreeing to arbitration under Sheindlin.
udge Judy, which premiered on September 16, 1996, reportedly revitalized the court show genre.[5] Only two other arbitration-based reality court shows preceded it, The People's Court (its first life canceled in 1993 from low ratings) and Jones & Jury (lasting only the 1994–95 season, short-lived from low ratings).[5] Sheindlin has been credited with introducing the "tough" adjudicating approach into the judicial genre, which has led to several imitators.[6] The only two court shows that outnumber Judge Judy's seasons, The People's Court and Divorce Court