I suppose that I am as guilty as the next person of watching the tragic, cruel, and often hateful things that people do to one another on reality TV. Insert the meanest thing you ever saw on 'Survivor', 'Rock Of Love', 'The Hills' or even the 'Apprentice' here.
But everyone now and then there's nothing better at 'cleansing the palette' than a dose of law & order reality TV style. Our DVR at home is full of episodes from these dispensers of daytime justice.
The cases typically run the gamut of friends, family, business partners, and complete strangers bringing charges against one another. The conflicts range from petty grievances and misunderstandings to surreal episodes that can't be described without pictures and a vivid imagination. Those are my favorite!
Thank goodness that we can rely on road tested 'judicial' wisdom from people like Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown and, if you're lucky enough to have him in syndication where you live, the world famous Judge Wapner.
Anybody out there a fan of these TV Judges? A fan of one we might have missed? Please mention them below and let us know, we'll try to include them next time we tackle this topic.
Court adjourned!
Top Searched TV Judges on
- Judge Judy
- Judge Mathis
- Judge Joe Brown
- Judge David Young
- Judge Hatchett
- Judge Marilyn Milian
- Judge Lynn Toler
- Judge Wapner
- Judge Jules
- Judge Mabeline Ephraim
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 15)
21. Judge Judy tends to get the case right, but she goes out of her way to be obnoxious. I'm sure the show encourages that.
Give me Judge Wapner any day.
Posted at 2:37PM on Apr 13th 2008 by D
22. Judge Judy, Judge Milian, Judge Mathis, and Judge Joe Brown are the best of the best. Judge David Young is okay. Judge Mabeline's voice was too annoying for me to watch her. Judge Tolier and Judge Hachett can also be annoying at times. Still, I appreciate the daily law lessons I've gained from these types of shows.
Posted at 2:37PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Victoria
23. J - OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE A MORON WITH NO EXPERIENCE IN THE COURTROOM. AS AN ATTORNEY, BELIEVE ME, I'VE SEEN JUDGES ACT A LOT WORSE THAT JUDGE JUDY AND ACTUALLY, SHE IS A RETIRED FAMILY COURT JUDGE FROM NEW YORK WHO COMMUTES TO WORK FROM NY OR FLORIDA TO LOS ANGELES FOR WORK. SHE IS OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. WE HAVE AN ARRAIGNMENT JUDGE HERE IN MY COUNTY IN FLORIDA WHO MAKES JUDGE JUDY SEEM LIKE A PUSSY CAT.
Posted at 2:38PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Unimpressed
24. I am really bothered about the judicial reality shows after seeing that whenever the judge finds someone guilty of out-and-out lying, there are no repercussions like a charge of perjury or fines, jail time, etc. These liars just walk out of the tv court either losing or winning. Also, those who commit welfare fraud are only scolded and submitted to public embarrassment..Judge Judy doesn't follow up and report them to the State Agencies. It's a tv show..nothing more. The "players" are paid up front (up to $5,000),they usually get hotel fees and transportation paid, too. None of them have to pay out of their own pockets. THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT.
Posted at 2:38PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Marge Holt
25. I Tivo Judge Judy twice a day. As a past educator of troubled high school students, I find her refreshing when she talks so open to parents who are in denial of their parenting skills. If teachers could speak this openly with problem students and parents, it would be a much better world. Hey, do you think Judge Judy would consider running for President?!?!?!?
Posted at 2:39PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Sal Cracchiolo
26. NASTY, ARROGANT, UNINFORMED, SEXIST, SELF SERVING BITCH !
Posted at 2:42PM on Apr 13th 2008 by James Peters
27. I watch and like judge Maria Lopez.
Posted at 2:44PM on Apr 13th 2008 by julian
28. Judge Judy is my favourite. She is very brilliant and smart. She is a mother who does not want anyone to play with the life of a child and she respect old people. She wants people to be responsilbe and intelligent.
Posted at 2:44PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Rachael
29. KEEP IN MIND, THESE TV JUDGES ARE RETIRED COURT OFFICERS OR JUST LAWYERS DOING IT FOR FAME AND FORTUNE. THEY ARE PAID TO LITIGATE CASES BASED ON LOCAL CASE LAW AND THE LAWS OF PURGERY AND SUCH CANNOT APPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LEGAL COURT OFFICERS, JUST LITIGATORS...SUCH AS SOMEONE YOU WOULD PAY TO SETTLE A SIMPLE DISAGREEMENT AND QUITE A FEW OF THESE TYPES ARE LISTED IN YOUR YELLOW PAGES. THE PEOPLE THAT GO ON THESE SHOWS ARE LOOKING FOR A FREE TRIP AND HOTEL. I WOULD NEVER PUT MY LAUNDRY OUT FOR THE COUNTRY TO SEE.
Posted at 2:45PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Unimpressed
30. Never miss Judge Judy, more people should listen to her and learn a lesson. I don't know how she puts up with some of that trash. Some of those people should be ashamed. We also watch Judge Alex, he don't put up with anything either. He is very sincere and honest on his decisions. He should be on an hour at a time. Judge Brown, has changed over the years, half the time he seems to be too tired or on the bottle. His voice sounds terrible for a Judge.
Posted at 2:45PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Gloria M. Steffy
31. Mr. ALL CAPS, Esq. -- Perhaps some of those "real life" judges act like flaming a-holes just because it's their court and they can get away with it. Or since you say Judge Judy commutes from FL, maybe there's just something in the water in FL.
Or perhaps they see Judge Judy act like that on TV for all these years and think they can get away with acting the same way, since that's the public perception. That kind of attitude seems to percolate all the way up to the Supreme Court these days. (Another reason why I consider Judge Joe Brown to be an infinitely better role model than Judge Long Dong.)
Or perhaps, it's just that your FL judges are sitting down behind the bench all day and it makes their hemorrhoids act up?
Posted at 2:46PM on Apr 13th 2008 by nasruddin
32. Judge Judy hands down.
Posted at 2:46PM on Apr 13th 2008 by D. H.
33. Hey, "J"..you obviously didn't complete your educational goals. Take another look at your grammar in your posting. It's full of glaring errors. Who are you to take any educated person to task? I wouldn't call you stupid, but certainly not as smart as a fifth grader! LOL
Posted at 2:47PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Ron
34. Jesse Jackson and Mathis are buddies, two peas in a pod, cant stand either one, Mathis thinks he is so cute....where is Judge Alex?? most of them sem to think they are comedians, NOT!!!!!! i like the ones that tend to business..Judges Hatchett, Brown, Toller and Alex act like Judges, not comedianes......Gramma
Posted at 2:47PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Gramma
35. Judge Judy is my favorite but in most cases I think she is too insulting. She is intuitive enough to select those who do need a tongue lashing such as the losers who don't work and are supported by our tax dollars or those who are intolerably ignorant. I feel sorry for the older people who are seeking justice but leave feeling demeaned. Judge Marilyn I believe has a better balance. She can scold or commend depending on the situation.
Posted at 2:49PM on Apr 13th 2008 by California nurse
36. Judy is a POS. I cant stand the Biotch. I would spit in her face if she was on the street and talked to me that way. This is a Mans world and NO woman talks to me that way judge or no judge!!
Posted at 2:51PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Peter Parker
37. I like Judge Judy best of all. I think the worse is Judge Mathis. Some of his decisions are lousy. If you are a man, you will never get a fair decision against a woman. And if you make one mistatement because you are nervous, he will immediately dismiss your case for no legal reason.
Posted at 2:53PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Lou Ducker
38. To much of
Jewish arrogance,
smugg
Ms know it all
obnoxious
and a sense of self importance
BUt america loves this and thats why she is rich and successfull. She does not get my dial and for you who watch her, Its your doing so stop bitching.
Posted at 2:54PM on Apr 13th 2008 by TE
39. Judge Joseph Wapner, I believe, is currently serving on the Animal Planet cable channel, doing "Animal Court", which settles disputes that involve animals.
There's some dog bite type cases and such, but the really interesting ones involve like horses and the like.
Posted at 2:54PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Tim
40. I CALL JUDGE JUDY , (JUDGE HATEFULL ), SHE SURE HAS A CHIP ON HER SHOULDER ,
Posted at 2:56PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Catherine