Who judges the TV judges? The viewers do ... and I'm one of them!
Who judges the judges? Well, I do. Of course, I’m talking about the television show judges. There’s a plethora of judge shows on American television these days, but the genre started out with Judge Joseph Wapner and the original The People’s Court which had its debut in 1981. I feel the show was the inspiration for the Court TV network today.
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Article comments
26 - Carol Brown
I, for one, am hooked on the judge shows, about the only thing I care to watch for the most part. So I've got my opinions.
Judge Judy grows on you after a while.
I really like People's Court.
I like Judge Joe Brown.
As for Judge Christina Lopez, she needs to remember she's not a therapist. She trys too much to fix things that maybe people don't want fixed.
Not crazy about Judge Hatchett, too much teenager stuff,etc.
As for Divorce Court, I never could see what the purpose was. She never granted a divorce, so what was her job?
I don't like Judge Mathis, it seems to me he gets too carried away with any sexy, kinky things that come up.
As for Texas Justice, he did the same thing Judge Mathis does. They let these people holler and scream at each other, because "they might hear something that could affect the case." But I do find it annoying anyway.
As for Judge Maria Lopez, she turned me off the first time she said "there's only room for one diva in the courtroom, and that was her."
27 - Jim
Judge Maria Lopez needs to get a mirror, or watch her own lousy show, so she can see how rediculous she looks wearing those oversized glasses on the bottom of her nose. She never even looks through them to read, so what are they hanging on her schnozz for?
She needs to stop giving Spanish lessons. As a judge, she should be well aware that ENGLISH is the OFFICIAL language of this country.
28 - Stephen
My cousin was on the Judge Marie Lopez under the episode September 18, 2007 where a woman sues a construction worker for a shoddy deck. How can I get a copy?
29 - Patt Stanek
I frankly am tired of Judge Maria Lopez ramming her Hispanic Heritage down our throats. She doesn't interpret for any other minority! Also notice if you are Hispanic you WIN no matter what. Wonder what she would do if I asked her to interpret my Cherokee language against a Hispanic. If she did only one side wouldn't that be biased? She is supposed to be there to rule on American Law, not her heritage.
30 - Sheri
Am I the only one that can't f'n stand Judge Joe Brown??
31 - Jenn
Nope. I hate Joe Brown ...he sucks. He strikes me as a chauvinistic piglet.: (
32 - Rachel in NYC
I came to this site because I like Judge Lopez's glasses, and I would like to find the same for myself... but since I am here with other Court show enthusiasts...
My absolute favorite is Judge Mathis. I love it when ex-cons or cons try to start some caca and Mathis pegs them BOOM. Ya can't fool him and ya can't sing him a sob story for an excuse. And he's funny.
After him, Judge Alex. Same kind of deal, ex-cop who has been there and done that, and doesn't let anyone get away with nonsense.
Then Judge Milian. Also funny and with a broad experience. I think she has a background in auto repair as well that comes in handy. Love it when the litigants think that the judges don't know something, and it turns out the judges know more than they do. Milian also doesn't seem to over-do much.
David Young cracks me up. He is a riot. Not sure why he uses so much Yiddish, but it is kinda funny watching him do that too.
Judge Lopez is also up there and yes her Spanish stuff does got a little tedious but in general it's pretty interesting and nice to see her pride - same like Judge Young's pride as a gay man, and likewise the cop and con backgrounds of Alex and Mathis.
I did notice what someone else said about the counterpoint staff, not only black judges with white staff ( and vice versa ) but also male to female, with Judge Young. I like that.
And the judges seem to take certain cases, like Judge Hatchett often has those troubled kids. I like Judge Hatchett a lot but she was a little too touchy feely and I got tired of paternity tests... but now I hear she is going off the air so I am trying to catch her stuff.
Lots of Spanish judges. Judge Christina was also too touchy feely for me, but she does get spunky and that's fun.
Judge Judy is moving too fast. She's quick witted but she doesn't give people enough time to talk enough to hang themselves, it feels like she already decided before she came on, she's just setting them up so she can deliver a predetermined line... so it doesn't feel like Justice.
Joe Brown like Judy doesn't give me the feeling that he heard what the litigants were saying and he seems kind of out of touch, old in the way of a closed mind, not of experience.
I like it when they give you a little "after" whether its the litigants point of view or the judges- except David Young. His little sermons look far too staged- and it's already said.
One more thing... a friend was about to ask some neighbors to "watch" his Mom's vacant house over the winter. Because of all the Judge shows I watched, I said- hey, you better have a written contract and who is going to be liable if something happens at the house? Better to get a professional, even though you and the neighbor have good intentions... stuff happens... My friend thanked me this morning. Much better than having to help him go to court later without a leg to stand on and a feud with a neighbor... :)
Oh and I am still blown away by Judge Milian uncovering a bold faced liar last week- I believed him and she got him to confess totally.
And yes, gotta LOVE Judge Milian's spiky strappy heels...
33 - SirScrotum
Judge Lopez is also up there and yes her Spanish stuff does got a little tedious but in general it's pretty interesting and nice to see her pride - same like Judge Young's pride as a gay man, and likewise the cop and con backgrounds of Alex and Mathis.
^I am sorry Racheal but your logic is vastly flawed on this opinion. Have you ever seen the way she treats her litigants? HEr rulings have no basis on law, and only on her personal opinions. On one episode she berated a woman for reporting an illegal Alien to the INS that was threatening her (her roommates bf) and called her a prudish twit. On another episode, she thought that a man should be allowed a license to steal peoples cell phones pretty much for being biracial. On my episode that I was on, her editing staff edited out 90% of my evidence and purposefully had me recite my story to her so that I mentioned a crucial part of my case last.
Well I had no idea that my case was going to take up less than 5 minutes and I would get all the facts out. Nope, she cut me off and did not allow me to mention the fact that the dealership that I was going to see a car show at, forgot to put out the fucking cones in there god damn parking spot.
The video clip they showed on her show, was about 20 seconds, even though I had recorded 4 minutes that accurately explained what happened, and they only showed the spot with cones in it, so viewers would think that I was retarded enuff to park OVER the fucking cones, which could not be farther from the truth.
SHe let off an admitted pedophile with 5 years probation, even though he held a screw driver to the throat of a 12 year old. DO you support pedophilia racheal? If you do, than this is your judge that you like.
If not, than, like I said, your logic is vastly flawed on which judges you choose as your favorites.
Oh and btw, shes predicted to be canceled by the end of this season, thank god.
Maybe she will take a god damn hint for once in her life and realize she is a shitty judge and do everyone a favor and off herself.
34 - steve
you dont even give people a chance to finish speaking,then ask another question before they are done.YOU SUCK SO BAD,I CANT STAND YOU.YOU ARE NOT FAIR AT ALL.you should be FIRED BY TRUMP.
35 - steve
NO---you stop talking-im not finished,if i was in your stupid court, i would roll my eyes-were a hat-cross my arms-take a shit on the floor--yell-rip farts-CORRECT YOU ,AND JUST SAY IM NOT PAYING ANY FINE THAT YOU INFLICT ,you are the worst next to that CUNT JUDY,this is not a personal attack,this is for the PEOPLE.YOU ARE NOT GOD--YOU ARE A BITCH WITH TOO MUCH POWER.I TRULY HATE YOUR GUTS.
36 - Tom
I have watched Judge Mathis for about three years and have noticed a great deal of change in his demeanor lately. He calls people liars too quickly if they make a mistake and he dismisses cases too quickly without good reason. Several of my family have noticed this also and I no longer like to watch the show like I used to.
37 - Ariel Carter
I just watched a Joe Brown show and he was terrible. He called a lady's sister a Tackhead and put her occupation down because she cleaned houses. He was very disrespectful to her and would not even check out her evidence. He felt that she had deceived a man who gave her a TV. He said that she 'knew what he wanted' in essence and it seemed that Joe Brown was on the man's side rather than applying the law. He will enconter something like that in his life so he can know how it feels to be put down on national TV. It was wrong and it hurt my heart to see the lady basically unable to tell her side of the situation. Like Dr Phil says regardless of how flat the pancake is, it still has TWO SIDES. How can a judge just listen to one side and have his 'mind' made up before hearing all the evidence. Is this a game? What goes around, comes around. Putting people down sucks!!!
38 - Robert McIntyre
What is wrong with Joe BROWN? iS HE ON MEDICATION?
39 - noyb
Judge Cristina Perez stinks. The Naked Cowboy, Eddie Munster/Butch Patrick, people from the Bunny Ranch, the Iranian woman and her spoiled daughter who blew $7k in Vegas " she has had all of these pathetic losers on at least 5 times. She “takes the law into her own heart” yeah well how about getting something else to do because clearly Christina has too much time on her hands.
40 - noyb
Judge Cristina Perez stinks. The Naked Cowboy, Eddie Munster/Butch Patrick, people from the Bunny Ranch, the Iranian woman and her spoiled daughter who blew $7k in Vegas " she has had all of these pathetic losers on at least 5 times. She “takes the law into her own heart” yeah well how about getting something else to do because clearly Christina has too much time on her hands.
41 - tv elf
Judge Marilyn Milian is a shrieking shrew who is more concerned about her ten pounds of makeup and fake whitened teeth than she is about the law. She is a screaming menopausal hen.
42 - oooohhhh
Judge Alex is sooooooo handsome. And he is a great judge, too. :)
43 - luvscats
I agree that Judge Christina is a crashing bore. I have her on as background while doing chores. Yes, I’ve seen that tacky Naked Cowboy several times. He needs a bar of soap and a reality check. But I think the most ridiculous has been “former Miss Alabama”. This woman was at least in her mid 40s and looked like the average woman you see at the grocery store. She was being used because her son damages someone’s car. The announcer introduced her as “former Miss Alabama” and Judge Christina said “I understand we are in the presence of royalty” then she showed a photo of the woman wearing a tacky crown. The former beauty queen grinned. I bet she bores people to death with her pageant stories. Christina said “this will have no bearing on the case”. Well, yeah, and what the hell does that have to do with anything. Obviously The woman was hanging onto her “fame” which such as is was came and went over 20 yrs ago. How freaking pathetic!
44 - what a freakshow
Judge Christina Perez’s show is sleazy and corny and so is the promo (“she takes the law into her own heart”). Pffft. As far as that Naked Cowboy freak, they gave him an entire hour (2 segments). He’s an over the hill piece of trash, a fast talker blathering on about freedom of expression. He needs to get a job and pay some bills instead of walking around in his skivvies strumming on a guitar. This a-hole can’t even sing, and Christina had the nerve to give him and floor to perform. How the show got a Daytime Emmy recently is anyone’s guess. Guess people like to see adult film stars and lap dancers suing each other.
Another scummy court show is Divorce Court. I kind of like Judge Lynn Toler but the show is full of the lowest class losers one can imagine. Then she had Gary Coleman on, a new low.
45 - addicted to court shows
My gripe is when they don't let the litigants give their opinions at the end of the show.
I can't remember which court show has stopped showing that.
46 - luvscats
correction - in earlier post I said "former" Miss Alabama was being used, I meant to say "sued" - typo
47 - courtshow addict
I love Judge Alex Ferrer. YUM YUM :)
48 - Mark
The original People's Court with Judge Joseph Waper was by far the most professional and ethical of any authentic courtroom series. Sadly, that level of professionalism has been replaced with way too much sensationalism. Most of us realize how dumbed down television has become. Sensationalism, I guess, works for getting ratings. Rather than have an unsuccessful court program that has a rational judge on the bench who's courteous, fair and generally likable, people would rather watch an unethical, insulting, vindictive, arrogant judge (Judge Judy is the spittin' image here) that exhibits exactly what a judge shouldn't be. Well, it's TV. TV is far from reality in sooooo many ways. So Judge Judy's bitchy demeanor has granted her a following of (sadly) loyal viewers. That's all that matters in TV land--RATINGS! If people are willing to watch crap and tolerate the crap that fills 99% of what is on network and cable TV nowadays then there's no hope for any quality programming, EVER!
49 - BUMP
I loved Judge Mathis for years. However for the past year I find it hard to stomach him. He is constantly throwing cases toward the guilty party by tossing the innocent party for "CONTEMPT" usually by claiming they Rolled Their Eyes at him (How thin skinned can you get?) Or claiming the litigant said one thing then contradicted themself yet when I roll the tape back often that was not the case! The judge had already predetermined that he didn't like the litigants personality so waits for the slightest 'wrongdoing' to end the case for them.(Usually a White woman suing a Black man) What a baby he has become. Geez he made his career by saying foolish things to the litigants and then pretending he misheard or understood them...."Oh you said you wear boots with those pants, I thought you said that you poop your pants." Yuk yuk yuk. If his ego really felt so insecure he could do like Joe Brown and fine the person $100. but let justice prevail and don't let the guilty party go scot free. I understand that he is not a very bright individual but he was entertaining enough to last the first 9 years without resorting to these shenanigans. I rarely watch him anymore and when I do I just can't enjoy him as I use too.
50 - Justus
I like Judge Pirro because she actually uses case law and knows her stuff. She's very bright not to mention attractive without looking like a drag queen like some of the others. Today I watched her rule on a case where a young man's partner was said to be a sexual offender, it had nothing to do with the case and she ruled on it appropriately. She is also the only one who doesn't act as if she just crawled from under a rock....it other words she knows the system. We should by now ALL know that in the Family court, which allows so much hearsay that everything that is said about a person is not true. In other words everyone who is labeled a child abuser or a sexual offender is not necessarily true. Parents are falsely accused of child abuse in this country daily so that the state can make money off of these cases. The fostercare system shouldn't be over populated like it is...that many children are not truly being abused by their parents. What about the ones abused in foster care and other placements by the state for money? Pirro is refreshing.
51 - Mary L. Adison
I love Judge David. He is very fair and professional. I have a successful Gay son who I love dearly,and he is my hero, and compare him to judge Young. I love judge Karen and Judge Pirro. I like the new judges, but I'ved watched the oder ones for so many years, i watch them sporadically now. I also love Judge Alex and watched him from day one.
52 - toomuchtv
Judge Pirro is one of the better ones. I like Judge Milian, she has a sense of humor, but is fair and impartial. I wonder about David Young needing a lie detector for his cases. What judge would rely on a machine not admissible in court to
rule? He should be able to judge cases on the evidence, that's what he makes the big bucks for. I agree with Bump about Judge Mathis, he is ridiculous with some of his judgements and a lot of his comments are so sexist. Judge Joe is also guilty of that, but not quite so often. I don't like Judge Karen, she doesn't issue verdicts on fact or law but on her personal feelings. Judge Judy is just rude. Her "jokes" are recycled over and over and weren't funny the 1st time around. She needs new writers. And a big dose of humanity.
53 - cristina perez sucks
This idiot has an emmy? REALLY!?!?!? For What? Being ignorant? I wonder who she sucked off for that one. She must have done one hell of a job, considering she's a hack of a judge. I've also got to wonder who at UCLA was fellated by this stupid, ugly ass, hook nosed tramp to get her bachelor's degree. This dumb bitch makes me sick. Get her off tv, and keep her out of ANY courtroom on the planet.
54 - Shanelle
Judge Judy is a bitch especially towards woman. She never takes the time to hear out the cases she gets and she has a smart ass mouth. Just because your a judge doesnt mean you can disrespect the people that come into your court room. If I ever had to go to court for anything I would choose to go to her court just so I can cuss her ass out.