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Judy Justice
File:JudyJusticeShow.png
GenreArbitration-based reality court show
Created byJudy Sheindlin
Directed byRandy Douthit[1]
StarringJudge Judy Sheindlin
Law Clerk Sarah Rose
Stenographer Whitney Kumar
Bailiff Kevin Rasco
Narrated byAl Murdoch
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes120-episode season 1 (11/1/2021 to 4/15/2022)
Production
Executive producers
  • Randy Douthit[2]
  • Scott Koondel[1]
  • Amy Freisleben[2]
Production locationsCulver Studios, Culver City, California
Running time24 minutes
Production companyAmazon Studios[3]
Original release
NetworkIMDb TV (season 1)
Amazon Freevee (season 2)
ReleaseNovember 1, 2021 (2021-11-01) –
present

Judy Justice is an American streaming arbitration-based reality court show presided over by former Manhattan Family Court Judge Judith Sheindlin. Judy Justice is a spin-off of courtroom series Judge Judy (1996–2021).[4]

The show features Sheindlin adjudicating real-life small-claims disputes within a simulated courtroom set. Prior to the proceedings, all involved parties sign arbitration contracts agreeing to Sheindlin's ruling.

It is produced by Amazon Studios.[3] Unconventional for the court show genre, Judy Justice is the first standard courtroom series to broadcast new episodes exclusively through a streaming service. The series is streamed on the free, ad-supported video channel previously known as IMDb TV, later by April 2022 rebranded and retitled as Amazon Freevee[5] (a move prompted by Sheindlin).[6] Freevee is owned and distributed by Amazon Studios.[7] It was reported in late 2021 that with "IMDb TV" still in only its fledgling stages, Judy Justice is "easily its biggest original project yet."[8]

By November 2020, it was reported that the show had been picked up for a 120-episode first season, the largest initial order package for a first-run streaming series.[3][9] To date, Sheindlin has a contract with Amazon to rule over the court show for two seasons.[8]

Early projections were that the series will compete in an uphill battle against Paramount-owned reruns of top-rated Judge Judy for courtroom ratings leadership.[10] Judy Justice, advertised as a flashier, more hip rendition of Judge Judy,[11][6] premiered on November 1, 2021, with that first season concluding on April 15, 2022.[12] The court show's first four episodes were released on its premiere date.[13] In general, however, one new episode airs for each weekday, occasionally two.[14][2] In March 2022, the series was renewed for a second season.[15] The second season is scheduled to premiere in fall 2022.[15]

Cast and crew members

Judge Judy Sheindlin

Main article: Judy Sheindlin

Judge Judy Sheindlin was born on October 21, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to German-Jewish parents Murray and Ethel Blum. Sheindlin is a former Manhattan Family Court Prosecutor turned Supervising Family Court Judge turned famed Judge Judy television series arbitration star of 25 years. She is the arbitrator and sole creator of Judy Justice.

In contrast to Judge Judy, Sheindlin presides over Judy Justice without her trademarked lace collar or traditionally black-colored judicial robe. Rather, she presides in a burgundy colored judicial robe–a move first seen in courtroom series Judge Karen (Karen Mills-Francis similarly sporting the unconventionally burgundy colored robe). Sheindlin has described the adjustment as a measure taken for creating a flashier, more chic version of Judge Judy.[11] In addition, Sheindlin has withdrawn from artificial hairpieces, namely the clip-on hair buns that she donned in the last few seasons of Judge Judy. On Judy Justice, Sheindlin has transitioned to sporting a mini-ponytail from her actual hair, as well use of hair gel that creates for a smooth, glossy hairstyle appearance.[16]

Taking to her same tough adjudicating approach from Judge Judy, Sheindlin reigns over the program wielding her trademarked crusty disposition while exerting her strict enforcement of rules and expectations. Yahoo! has characterized Sheindlin's Judy Justice as "Judge Judy returns to devour litigants. . . ."[17] In contrast to Judge Judy, however, Sheindlin has toned down her no-nonsense insistence for briskness, concision and relevant communications out of the parties, instead taking to a more prying, inquisitive nature with them.[18] Having the litigants expand on showy and digressive details has led to lengthier cases, thus generally one case per episode of Judy Justice as opposed to two on Judge Judy.[18][19] Less frequently, Judy Justice has been known to host two cases per episode. Also of note in the spin-off, Sheindlin resurrects her famed catchphrases termed judyisms, which she routinely used in the Judge Judy program to distinguish her message and add entertainment value, for example "Um/uh, yep/nope, uh-huh/uh-uh is not an answer."[20]

Supporting cast

Sheindlin's supporting cast is made up of three members: a law clerk, a stenographer, and a bailiff. The added positions of a law clerk and stenographer seated within the witness stands were described by show executives as a necessary move to create more life, youth and entertainment at the bench. It has also been described as instrumental in reflecting Sheindlin's pre-celebrity Manhattan family court roots where there existed a law clerk to one side of her and stenographer to the other, likewise seated near the witness stand areas.[21][22]

  • Sarah Rose (Sheindlin's young adult granddaughter,[23] law school student,[6] law clerk, former Judge Judy and Hot Bench production assistant, former Late Show with Stephen Colbert intern[23]) serves as Judy Justice legal analyst.[24][25] Rose's responsibility to the program is providing research pertinent to the proceedings, aiding Sheindlin in determining her rulings. In addition, Rose contributes a Gen Z insight to the court show. With Sheindlin coming from the silent generation in direct contrast with the norms Rose is accustomed to, many episodes capture Sheindlin openly opposing or expressing puzzlement with new and existing trends associated with Rose's generation. In response, Rose is seen attempting to rationalize and explain the value of Gen Z norms to Sheindlin.[21]
Rose has been characterized by Sheindlin as "snarky" and "opinionated"—Sheindlin likening Rose to herself.[8] The final segment of each case sees an exchange between Rose and Sheindlin in the judge's chambers. In these segments, Rose opines on her grandmother's rulings, typically done in one of the following manners: offering legal input or a perspective that Sheindlin hadn't considered during the proceedings; disagreeing entirely with Sheindlin's handling; or, as is most often the case, agreeing with Sheindlin's rulings and nodding her approval. It was suggested by the New York Post that Sheindlin is grooming Rose to fill her shoes and carry on the torch in leading the way in courtroom programming.[23]
  • Whitney Kumar (board-certified court reporter in the state of California) serves as Judy Justice stenographer.[26] Outlining her role, Kumar explained that she serves to remind Sheindlin of anything orally communicated throughout the proceedings that ends up in dispute. Scenes often cut to Kumar shown typing up transcripts of everything said during the case, word for word.[21] A running theme from Judge Judy, there were frequent instances in which Sheindlin perceived the litigants as contradicting themselves by making discrepant statements at different intervals of the case. In these moments, Sheindlin typically remarked, "You want me to play back the tape? I'll have my production team play back the tape for you".
Despite the catch phrase, video footage was never actually played back for litigants on Judge Judy, at least from what was broadcast on television. Conversely, Sheindlin frequently calls attention to Kumar in Judy Justice to read back quoted material of the litigants in order to corroborate her arguing points and positions. In some instances, however, Sheindlin has proven to be the one mistaken, revealed while Kumar reads back material from her transcripts.
  • Kevin Rasco (former Los Angeles probationary officer, entrepreneur, head of behind-the-scenes security at Judge Judy for its final three years) serves as Sheindlin's smiling and chipper bailiff.[27][25] Rasco explained his courtroom duties as protecting Sheindlin and keeping order in the court.[21] On occasion, Sheindlin has tried to assert her authority against aggressive and impudent litigants by directing Rasco to confront said litigants and reproach them.

Backstage crew

Sheindlin has spoken highly of the backstage crew that helped her produce and direct the Judge Judy program, sharing that most of them have joined her at Amazon. "That will keep my life on a steady keel," explained Sheindlin.[28][29] According to Judge Judy team members, the vast majority of behind-the-scenes crew from Judge Judy were said to have rejoined Sheindlin for Judy Justice.[30] Included as part of Sheindlin's backstage crew are former Judge Judy executive producers resuming their same roles in the spin-off:

  • Randy Douthit, former Judge Judy executive producer and director (1996–2021), resuming the same role as executive producer and director of Judy Justice.[2]
  • Amy Freisleben, former Judge Judy legal assistant (1998–2016) and Judge Judy co-executive producer (2016–2021), resuming the same role as co-executive producer of Judy Justice.[2][31]

The announcer for the show is Vancouver Canucks PA announcer Al Murdoch

Series presentation and processes

On-air format

In a court programming trend initiated by the Judge Judy program, each Judy Justice episode commences with a cold open trailer of the forthcoming case to be featured in that airing. This is followed by the show's title sequence, presenting the cast. Litigants are then shown making entrances to their respective podiums, one always assigned to plaintiff and the other to defendant. Bailiff Kevin Rasco swears in the litigants and then instructs the audience to come to order and rise for Sheindlin's entrance. After Sheindlin enters, she herself instructs the audience to be seated. Rasco then provides her with case files and the docket number just before the proceedings begin.

According to Judy Justice Executive Producers Randy Douthit and Amy Freisleben, most cases on the series focus on a single long case as opposed to the more no-nonsense, rapid style format of the Judge Judy program, which typically featured two shorter cases. Moreover, cases were said to be more involved on Judy Justice, entering into disputes further in-depth in contrast to the cursoriness of the Judge Judy series. It was said that this is largely made possible because of the streaming broadcast setup of the program, thus absent the restrictive time constraints that exist in first-run syndication (broadcast method used for the Judge Judy program).[32]

Once the case has completed, two segments follow: The first segment features the parties of the proceedings sharing their feedback to the verdict and matters related to the case, done by breaking the fourth wall. This is followed by another segment involving Sheindlin and her granddaughter, Sarah Rose, the two meeting in Sheindlin's judge's chambers to opine on the preceding case. Rose has described this segment as a tool to add her Gen Z perspective and contemporary insight to the program. Explained Rose, “The term LMAO came up on a case the other day, for example, and [Sheindlin] needed me to interpret.”[6]

Monetary award limit

In a first for standard court shows, the maximum award limit for Judy Justice is $10,000. Conversely, the maximum award limit for most arbitration-based courtroom programming, including Sheindlin's Judge Judy precursor, has historically been $5,000.[6] While the Judy Justice award limit represents an advancement for the court show genre, the norm for actual small claims court in its authentic form outside of televised entertainment allows complainants to request anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on jurisdiction.[33]

First-run streaming

In March 2020, when Sheindlin initially announced her plans for a new court show, she and her new talent agent, Scott Koondel, rejected the option of first-run syndication in favor of first-run streaming.[34] Judy Justice is the first standard arbitration-based reality court show to air first-run episodes through streaming. The nontraditional comedy court miniseries Gary Busey: Pet Judge (which ran for six episodes in 2020) was a streaming broadcast as well. On moving from 25 years in first-run syndication to a streaming service, Sheindlin has stated, "In three to five years all broadcasting will change. Now it’s streaming. I’m excited to be in this new venture."[11]

Set design

Sheindlin has advertised her newer program as more trendy and chic than the precursor, referencing the use of new media, a new robe, and an all new look.[11] Judy Justice showcases a similar but refreshed, upscale, modern version of the courtroom set design from Judge Judy, with a different wood color, marble columns and monitors that are built into the set.[35][32] Sheindlin also presides from a taller, black-colored executive office chair in Judy Justice, discontinuing the burgundy red colored executive office chair used for most of Judge Judy (a reversal on those colors, Sheindlin now sports a burgundy robe in Judy Justice, discontinuing use of her traditionally black robe from Judge Judy).[36] While the American Flag and New York State Flag was behind Sheindlin in Judge Judy, the New York State Flag is replaced in Judy Justice with another. Whereas the audience stands were filled with individual chairs in Judge Judy, furnished benches fill the stands in Judy Justice.[37][11]

Broadcast and production details

Behind-the-scenes operations

Judy Justice is notable in that its debut features Sheindlin's return to an in-person/in-studio setup as far as her judicial dispute handling. Resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Judge Judy ended its final season with Sheindlin presented virtually, only the litigants and Byrd appearing in studio and absent of an audience. While there exists a studio audience in Judy Justice, it is made up of significantly less people, a move that allows the audience members to be vastly separated from one another. With COVID-19 still in progress during first season production of Judy Justice, the cast and crew were all met with a host of elaborate challenges and barriers during development of each episode. To reduce the chances of potential spread of the virus among cast, crew, litigants, witnesses and audience members, stringent safety measures were enacted: masking, social distancing, regular COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, etc. These procedures added even more time to the already involved hours that go into tapings and studio processes, the extra COVID-19 functions described as putting executive producers, in particular, to the test as far as efficiency.[38]

Season one and episode lengths

Altogether, the completed first season of Judy Justice contains 120 episodes. Per her contract, Sheindlin and her Judy Justice crew were commissioned to produce 120 by December 2021, the largest initial order package for a streaming series.[2] Production of the program's first season of 120 episodes was completed in a span of three months, the tapings running from mid-July 2021 through October 2021.[38] As reported by the show's staff, Judy Justice cases span longer and explore more depth and detail than the typical episode of Judge Judy. In part, this is due to less time constraints on streaming platforms in contrast to first-run syndication.

Episode release schedule and channel dedication

Judy Justice debuted on November 1, 2021, on Amazon-owned IMDb TV with its first four episodes. Typically, Judy Justice only releases one new episode (occasionally two) for each weekday, which is the custom of most courtroom programming. This contrasts, however, to most streaming service programs which release episodes in large batches at extended hiatus intervals for seasonal binge viewing.[2] Following December 17, 2021, the program entered into its winter hiatus and returned 5 weeks later, resuming season 1, on January 24, 2022. On January 20, 2022, midway into the court show's 1st season, IMDb TV announced plans to launch a 24/7 streaming channel dedicated to Judy Justice, elevating the show's presence on their platform.[39] On March 8, 2022, IMDb TV renewed Judy Justice for a second season.[40] The first season ended on April 15, 2022, with the second season scheduled to premiere in fall 2022.[12]

Filming locations

The court show is filmed in Los Angeles, the same city where Judge Judy was filmed. Specifically, the court show is filmed in Culver City, California, at Culver Studios.[41]

Origins and development

Matters leading to Judy Justice

Amid Sheindlin's displeasure with various salary and programming-related judgment calls made by Judge Judy distributor CBS Media Ventures, as well as recurrent legal claims filed against her and CBS by talent agency Rebel Entertainment to secure allegedly owed profits for uniting her and CBS, she announced the end of Judge Judy.[42][43] It was in a March 2, 2020, appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show when it was first reported by Sheindlin herself that her long-running, top daytime Nielsen-rated courtroom series would conclude in then following 2020–21 television season (the show's 25th-anniversary season).[44]

The timing of Sheindlin's news took CBS off guard and by surprise. At that point, the network had only tentative plans related to the program's series end, with nothing set in stone.[43] Judge Judy program's Bailiff Byrd later reported that he too was unaware of Judge Judy's series end and the development of a spin-off series until Sheindlin's Ellen DeGeneres Show appearance.[45] In revealing the end of her contract with ViacomCBS, Sheindlin shared that the network would subsequently take over syndicated reruns of Judge Judy while she would seek a new broadcast distributor to resume arbitration-based dispute handling for a court show entitled Judy Justice.[46][47][48]

Establishing a distributor

After Scott Koondel shopped Sheindlin's spin-off series around the media to various streaming distributors for several months, it was first announced on October 29, 2020, that Sheindlin had signed a deal with Amazon Studios to stream Judy Justice.[42] Some early media reports of the Amazon partnership claimed that Judy Justice would be produced in part by Scott Koondel's Sox Entertainment production company,[49] though updated reports have only cited Amazon Studios as producing the series.[50] The information that has remained consistent in both early and later news reports, however, is that Sheindlin hired Koondel to market her new court show around the entertainment industry. Koondel's efforts resulted in the partnership between Sheindlin and Amazon.[3][51]

Koondel previously served for 25 years at CBS Television Distribution (distributors of Judge Judy) up until October 2018, exiting from a senior vice president role at the network.[52][53][54] Koondel's departure from CBS was to launch Sox Entertainment in December 2018 in order to package and produce his own entertainment programming.[55]

Pre-production arrangements

Sheindlin returned to Los Angeles—the same city where Judge Judy was filmed—in mid-July 2021 to begin production on Judy Justice, which was 4 months before the program's debut.[56][29] Until September 9, 2021, when numerous Judy Justice details were revealed with significant media publicity and numerous press releases, Sheindlin and the program were largely confidential with journalists on what to expect, feeling that revealing too much would spoil the surprises for viewers. Sheindlin had also shared that contract restrictions prevented her from disclosing details in relation to Judy Justice.[57] She did, however, note her desires to abandon her trademarked lace collar, as well as the traditionally black colored judicial robe in favor of another colored robe.[28][57] On September 9, 2021, Sheindlin revealed her new robe color as burgundy in the first videography from the program, a teaser trailer in which she declared, "Court is back in session."[14]

In discussing her judicial tactics and adjudicating approach prior to the series debut, Sheindlin shared that although set designs, litigants, subjects, graphics and music would all differ from Judge Judy, she herself would remain the same: "It will still have the comfort of truth-finding. I'm still the only judge, but it will be different."[9] Elaborating, Sheindlin stated she would not be "reinventing the wheel. Look, I do what I do. I don’t know. Give me a robe and a case, and I’ll do my job. So within the confines of me doing what I do, we’ll be changing some of the things around me. But I'm not becoming a ballet dancer”. As first reported on September 9, 2021, Judy Justice premiered on November 1, 2021.[14][2]

Partnership with Amazon Studios/IMDb TV

Salary and contracts

As part of her contract with Amazon Studios, Sheindlin has complete ownership rights over Judy Justice.[58] It was reported in March 2020 that Sheindlin had committed to at least two seasons of presiding over the program.[54]

In an interview prior to the series debut, Sheindlin alluded to her contractually agreed-on salary rate from Amazon for hosting Judy Justice, stating that she plans on maintaining her reputation as the highest paid celebrity in television. Sheindlin rationalized that due to how public her massive income level was during the run of Judge Judy, salary negotiations with Amazon were therefore effortless. Elaborating on the subject, Sheindlin stated, "The folks at Amazon understood what the parameters were, and there was no issue".[59][60]

With that said, many media reports have conjectured that Sheindlin has received a significant pay cut from Amazon of $25 million annually for hosting Judy Justice.[61][62] Conversely, by late into her 15th season of Judge Judy (2012–13), Sheindlin had signed a contract with CBS that advanced her salary from $45 million to $47 million annually, which lasted through to the series end.[59][60] In 2020, Sheindlin had a net worth of $440 million.[63] By late 2021, Sheindlin's net worth was reported by Forbes to be $460 million.[13]

Amazon Studios/IMDb TV's future outlook

So confident was Amazon Studios in Sheindlin's potential to draw viewership that the company ordered a 120 episode first season of Judy Justice by November 2020, a year prior to its debut. The order was unprecedented as the largest initial order package for a streaming series. Expressing optimism over Judy Justice, Co-Heads of Content and Programming for IMDb TV Lauren Anderson and Ryan Pirozzi were quoted as stating:

Judge Judy Sheindlin is a TV icon and visionary who has entertained millions of fans for decades. As we build the IMDb TV slate of high-quality, ambitious Amazon Studios originals, we are delighted to deliver customers a court program from the legendary Judge Sheindlin who, without a doubt, is the very best in the business.[3]

IMDb TV executives are reportedly aiming to build their to date "little known,"[64] free, ad-supported video-on-demand service into “a modern broadcast network” for Amazon. According to the streamer, Sheindlin's spin-off series will play a key role in developing this strategy through attracting her legions of viewers.[65]

Viewership data and early projections of viewership turnout

Amazon's Judy Justice first-run vs. ViacomCBS's Judge Judy reruns

It was reported that Judy Justice will be in direct competition with reruns of its predecessor for highest court viewership ratings. It's thought that Sheindlin's top-rated, completed precursor—which is under complete ownership rights to ViacomCBS—will serve as her only viable competitor and biggest rival in the court show genre. In early September 2021, veteran syndicated television programming analyst Bill Carroll projected stiff competition from syndicated Judge Judy reruns by CBS, such that will presumably leave Judy Justice defeated by its rival. Explaining his rationale, Carroll stated:

Judge Judy viewers have been conditioned through the years to seeing reruns. Some stations would run back-to-back episodes, one new and one rerun. The show's look and format was kept so consistent through the years that to many viewers it is timeless. If you were to say to most viewers that these are not new shows, they would say, ‘Oh, really?’ They're almost certain to surpass Judy Justice in viewership although, to be fair, streaming audiences are smaller than most TV shows.[10]

CBS has additionally reported that the number of stations carrying the reruns are "substantially the same" as when fresh episodes were provided. That being said, it was reported that the value of Judy Justice to IMDb TV will be in driving extensive viewership to the service, where those audiences may be exposed to other programs and offerings.[10] On the subject, Carroll was quoted as remarking, "For [Amazon], it can't be anything but good. For [Sheindlin], it allows her to do what she loves to do."[10]

It was later revealed on October 25, 2021, from Nielsen ratings data sources, that an estimated 7 million viewers were still tuning into syndicated Judge Judy reruns, a decline of only 11% from May 2021 when the court show was airing new episodes.[6] Worthy to note that according to The New York Times, in contrast to traditional syndicated broadcasts, Nielsen ratings are not publicly reported for streaming broadcasts, taking pressure off of streaming entertainers.[6]

Streaming service outlook

Sheindlin and Scott Koondel's decision to air Judy Justice through a streaming service as well as on IMDb TV in particular (versus first-run syndication) has been met with significant negative projections and criticism, one review remarking, "Streaming represents a test for Sheindlin and for her producers (Randy Douthit and Scott Koondel) to see if she can capture an audience excited to see what they’ve seen before. . . . And it’s familiar enough—with the point that Sheindlin cannot suffer fools having been very amply made at this point—that Judy Justice's existence on streaming comes to feel deeply strange."[66] Another review of the program reads "CBS is aggressively broadcasting a series of reruns (which have traditionally always got high ratings) during the first volley of Judy Justice episodes, in the hope that casual viewers would prefer to watch easily accessible old episodes rather than seek out a new and hellishly obscure [IMDb TV] streaming service."[67]

Sheindlin on projected obstacles facing Judy Justice viewership

In October 2021, Judge Sheindlin was questioned on whether she had any concern over Judy Justice failing to succeed due to IMDb TV's obscurity, the speculated loss of much of her older-aged Judge Judy viewers who are thought to be largely oblivious to new media like streaming, as well as the drawing power that the Judge Judy program still holds in broadcast syndicated reruns. Sheindlin described herself as "relatively worry free," adding "I did the math, and I’ve already got enough [money] for 24/7 nursing care until I’m 150." Nonetheless, Sheindlin revealed that she shared with IMDb TV her objections with their then company name and branding, resulting in the company determining that imminent updates would effect the name "IMDb TV," its image and presentation.[6] By April 28, 2022, in accordance with those plans, the streaming service was rebranded and retitled as "Amazon Freevee".[5]

Acknowledging the residual and perhaps insurmountable ratings success of CBS-owned Judge Judy even in reruns in a discussion with The New York Post in October 2021, Sheindlin commented, “Viewers can still catch me at 4 o’clock with my old hair. And the last time I looked, Judge Judy was the number-one program in syndication in daytime television. If we can bring half of that 8 million viewer audience with us [to Judy Justice], that’s terrific."[41]

Viewership results

Season 1

On March 8, 2022, it was announced that the program had been renewed for a second season, which is slated to premiere in fall 2022. According to IMDb TV (now Amazon Freevee), Judy Justice was the No. 1 original program for their streaming service, with more than 25 million streaming hours viewed before the end of season 1 (viewership was measured by hours watched by IMDb TV themselves as the Nielsen Media Research corporation does not conduct Nielsen ratings for steaming services).[68] In an interview response to the news, Sheindlin stated, “I am over the moon and couldn’t be happier with the Judy Justice reception in streaming. Amazon has been a terrific partner, and I look forward to our continued collaboration.”[15]

Critical reception

Fan disapproval over perceived snubs of Bailiff Byrd

In December 2020, during 25th season production of Judge Judy, Petri Hawkins-Byrd (Sheindlin's bailiff in the Manhattan family court system as well as bailiff for Judge Judy program's entire 25-season run, making him the longest-running television court show bailiff in history) noted publicly that he would be "honored" if invited back for the spin-off series in an interview with the Associated Press.[69]

On September 9, 2021, however, it was announced that Kevin Rasco would serve as Judy Justice bailiff as opposed to Byrd. It wasn't until the first trailer for the court show released on September 30, 2021, that criticism and displeasure displayed among much of Sheindlin's Judge Judy fanbase over the absence of Byrd. During the trailer, Sheindlin remarked that she was solo for 25 years of Judge Judy and promoted her Judy Justice cast by characterizing Bailiff Rasco as "the warmest of people."[70][71][72]

Addressing fan complaints over his absence in an October 8, 2021, interview with Entertainment Weekly, Byrd revealed that he was not asked to participate in Judy Justice. He added that he was not offered an audition or reached out to at all with regards to the spin-off since Sheindlin first disclosed news of the court show in her March 2020 Ellen DeGeneres Show appearance—which is how Byrd learned of the news as well. It wasn't until Byrd phoned Sheindlin himself in July 2021 after Judge Judy ended and production of Judy Justice was beginning did he first discuss the spin-off with Sheindlin. According to Byrd, when he asked Sheindlin if he would have a role in the streaming series, Sheindlin explained that he had been omitted with the explanation that his salary amount would have been too high. Byrd said he felt perplexed and dismayed by Sheindlin's statements, stating he'd never had the opportunity to discuss salary with anyone. He added, however, that he was humbled by the show of support from fans.[45][73][74]

In a reply over the matters to the press, Sheindlin praised her former bailiff, stating "Byrd is terrific, and we had a great 25 year run. This is a whole new program with a whole new cast and an exciting energy.”[75] Byrd ultimately expressed that he holds no grudges, is grateful to Sheindlin and wished her all the best with Judy Justice.[76][77][78]

Byrd hired on by Sheindlin's production team for bailiff role
On April 28, 2022, it was announced that Byrd will be returning to television as bailiff for another court show produced and created by Sheindlin, which is currently in development. Like Judy Justice, the upcoming courtroom series will also be streamed on Amazon Freevee. Entitled Tribunal, the program 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.[79]

Media reviews

Following its November 1, 2021, debut, Judy Justice was heavily panned by media critics as lacking in a different direction from Judge Judy, with such characterizations made as "indistinguishable with Judge Judy," "This may seem familiar, but the mics on the [litigants'] desks are slightly smaller. An excerpt from Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 has been replaced as the theme song by something that sounds vaguely similar. Another major change: there's a new bailiff," “a tricky sell. The show, but for its title and some shifts on the margins, effectively serves as the 26th season of Judge Judy.”[66][36][80] Rotten Tomatoes has rated the court show a 60%. Of note, 60% or better is considered fresh whereas 59% or worse is considered rotten.[81] An article from The Guardian reads as follows:

Although only the top percentile of Judge Judy acolytes would be able to spot any difference. Sheindlin isn’t wearing the lace collar of old, and her robe is now burgundy instead of black, but this is by no means a reinvented wheel. The format of the new show remains exactly the same as the old one: a procession of dirtbags line up to publicly air their petty disputes, and Sheindlin interrogates them before making a decision. At first glance, it’s hard to know who–other than Sheindlin’s accountants–Judy Justice is for.[67]

Judy Justice has been denounced by some media outlets and viewers over nepotism, the accusation directed at the move to add Sheindlin's granddaughter, Rose, to the program.[18] Sheindlin's popular, longtime message to the program's lower class litigants of urging financial independence, self-responsibility, hard work, pulling up of one's bootstraps and managing through life challenges has been labeled "ironic" in relation to the recruitment of her granddaughter to the program.[18] In contrast to the no-nonsense style of Judge Judy, Sheindlin's more prying nature on Judy Justice, in which she has litigants expand into further details has also been criticized. Similarly to Judge Judy, Sheindlin's treatment of the parties on Judy Justice has been slammed as demeaning and degrading, particularly with respect to the idea of a wealthy, upper-class elite (with a light work schedule) reprimanding and belittling impoverished, working-class, and struggling individuals.[18]

Judy Justice response to media criticism

In response to media criticism, Judy Justice executive producers claimed to having achieved success in the show's development of its own identity apart from Judge Judy. Pointing attention to the updated courtroom set design, advanced maximum award limit, and casting changes, Judy Justice Executive Producer Amy Freisleben stated, “It looks like a modern courtroom that you would find in any major city. [The on-screen cast offers] more action on the bench and more elements to work with. The casting of these three supporting players was to fulfill the new energy. . . . Judge Judy only considered cases whose litigants were suing for $5,000 or less, but with the support of Amazon, Judy Justice has double the jurisdictional limit [$10,000]. This allows a wider pool of cases for us to search for the program and get the best possible case for Judy".[32] Freisleben's fellow Executive Producer Randy Douthit additionally reasoned that delivering a fresh, new presence was behind the decision for a new bailiff in place of Bailiff Byrd. Defending additional moves made by the show, Douthit shared his feelings on the recruitment of Sheindlin's granddaughter, stating that Rose would appeal to the more “youthful streaming fanbase”.[32]

Allegations against executive producers

Main article: Judge Judy § Media scrutiny of alleged toxic Executive Producer Randy Douthit

Amid the spin-off's debut, Executive Producer Randy Douthit came under fire in November 2021 over years of lawsuits and allegations in relation to creating a toxic workplace backstage of Judge Judy. Sixteen former former Judge Judy producers alleged Douthit came to work drunk; engaged in sexual harassment; made inappropriate comments about the appearance of female litigants (misogyny) or disabled litigants (ableism); fired staff due to their age (ageism); and said he didn't want African-Americans overrepresented on the show (anti-blackness).[62][82][83] Among examples, a 2009 lawsuit filed by former Senior Producer Jonathan Sebastien alleged that Douthit announced, "We're not doing any more Black shows. I don't want to hear Black people arguing." In November 2021, six former Judge Judy staffers confirmed Sebastien's account.[84][82][83] Douthit, however, denied any wrongdoing and most of the cases were dismissed or settled out of court.[62]

Additionally, Executive Producer Amy Freisleben has been accused of pitting staffers against one another, frequently threatening people's jobs, drinking on the set, and showing contempt for the show's guests. Sheindlin was criticized over allegedly ignoring misconduct and allowing the producers to work on Judy Justice, causing former staff members to express concern that history will repeat itself.[30]

Sheindlin disputed the allegations, stating:

To author a piece which speculates that I 'was untouchable,' 'don't care how the show gets made,' 'that I don't trust anyone,' 'didn't like cases involving dogs, dog bites or strippers,' 'by and large didn't interact with staffers,' 'wasn't worried about the coronavirus,' is appalling and untrue.[30]

References

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