For nearly 15 years the popular reality courtroom show, Judge Judy, has been airing in American households with the slogan ‘Real cases! Real people! Judge Judy!’ playing in every episode. Though Judge Judith Sheindlin is very convincing, the shows validity altogether is still questioned.

From the outside looking in it appears to be a small claims court held by one extremely sassy judge.

Looking closer one will find that it is a reality TV show with paid plaintiffs and defendants.

According to The Consumerist’s website, “The power the judge has over the parties is granted by the contract of adhesion they sign to appear. If the defendant loses, the TV product team pays the plaintiff the judgment fee. If the judge finds for the defendant, both parties receive an appearance fee. The judges are not bound by real rules of procedure, evidence, or even behavior.”

It is quite obvious that Judge Judy is not restricted behaviorally as her show has gained the tagline ‘Justice with an Attitude’, which is a big reason why she is so popular. She tells people how it is.

Another surprising twist to the show is the fact that the claimants must sign and adhere to an arbitration agreement before going on the show. “In order for the syndi-court “judges” to have power, the parties in each case sign agreements to arbitrate.  By gaining jurisdiction over the parties through the contract, the judges are not bound by rules of procedure, evidence, or even proper decorum, which allows them to behave as they do.” (9http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/dispute/essay/syndicourtjustice.authcheckdam.pdf)

At first this may seem like Judge Judy is being a bit dictatorial, but she has been a judge for almost 30 years and has a great deal of experience with handling cases.

In other words, Judge Judy knows what she is talking about.

Furthermore, she would not be able to preside over real cases if she did not uphold the constitution. Still, what she says goes and the claimants must agree to this.

Even though her say is final, the claimants have little reason to complain. According to an interview Larry King conducted with the Judith Sheindlin, “We bring them to Los Angeles. We pay for their airfare and they pay for their hotel…If there is a money judgment, then the producer’s fund covers that money judgment. If the case is dismissed, it’s dismissed for all purposes: can’t appeal that. If there’s an exchange of property I sign an order and a sheriff or marshal will see to it that that property is exchanged.” (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0002/18/lkl.00.html)

The viewers are indifferent to this fact, however, as the show has been running for 15 years and is reportedly watched by 10 million people every day.

As long as justice is served and viewers are entertained the world moves on.