The neverending parade of judge shows.

[Kitsa]

Someone who was on one (can't remember who, but I think the show was Judge Judy) told a family member of mine that the cases are decided before the televised court thing even happens. As a matter of fact, I think they either said or insinuated that the show picks from a selection of closed small claims cases. Or people agree to appear on the show instead of going to court. I really have no idea how it works but that was the third-hand info I got.

They also said that each party gets, say, $5000 to appear. Then the monetary judgment is subtracted from one and added to the other. So I guess they're just getting yelled at on TV for money and they're not really out anything, which might explain why some of them act like they aren't really that upset.

I don't like Judge David Young's show either. If you have a cute dog that's like his dog, case closed. Then there's that little post-show thing where he shows off his dog to the crowd. And yes, as you said, if a litigant wants to capitalize on the minority issue, his show is the place to go.

Each judge seems to have something that sets them off. Judge Mathis likes to go off on tangents about gangsta wannabes and Detroit. Judge Marilyn Milian loves to throw out Spanish phrases and ask people if they know what they mean. Judge Judy is the person to go to if you've been wronged by some dumbass kid she can yell at. Judge Joe Brown will almost always rule against guys who don't "tcb", as he says. People could probably just figure out their best odds of winning by choosing the judge who hates their opponent's "type" the most.

Fun fact: Judge Joe Brown presided over one of the James Earl Ray hearings.