Judge Judy 1996
What is Judge Judy?
Judge Judy is an American arbitration-based reality court show that premiered on September 16, 1996. The series features retired Manhattan Family Court Judge Judith Sheindlin as she adjudicates real-life small claims disputes within a simulated courtroom environment.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1996
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 2,190
- Runtime
- 22 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 16, 1996
- Last aired
- Jul 23, 2021
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- Syndication
- Genres
- Crime
- Updated
Where to watch
Stream
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 2,190 episodes and an average 22-minute runtime.
Trailer
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Judge Judy is an American arbitration-based reality court show that premiered on September 16, 1996. The series features retired Manhattan Family Court Judge Judith Sheindlin as she adjudicates real-life small claims disputes within a simulated courtroom environment. All participants involved in the cases are required to sign contracts agreeing to arbitration under Sheindlin. The program is distributed by CBS Television Distribution and is presented in first-run syndication. In these proceedings, Sheindlin utilizes a no-nonsense approach to resolve cases where damages of no more than 5,000 dollars can be awarded. The series, which was created by Sandi Spreckman and Kaye Switzer, features appearances by Petri Hawkins Byrd, Jerry Bishop, and Jean Fuentes. The show is credited with revitalizing the court show genre, following only The People's Court and one other arbitration-based reality court show that preceded it. The production ran from 1996 until 2021, documenting Sheindlin as she makes judgments on various legal conflicts brought before her.
Should you watch it?
“A retired judge resolves real small claims disputes with sharp wit and firm authority.”
- Quick resolution of everyday disputes
- Judge Sheindlin's commanding presence
- Entertaining and educational
- Cases are pre-selected and staged
- Limited legal complexity
You enjoy straightforward courtroom drama with strong personality clashes.
Suitable for general audiences; focuses on civil disputes without graphic content.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 95 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Defendant arrested Sep 16, 1996
- E2 Dispute ends in assault Sep 17, 1996
- E3 Vandals; car repossession. Sep 18, 1996
- E4 Neighbor wrecks wall; policeman's civil complaint against a speeder. Sep 19, 1996
- E5 Engagement ring; dog attack. Sep 20, 1996
- E6 Lovers' dispute; unpaid loan. Sep 23, 1996
- E7 Spinster misused, custody case. Sep 24, 1996
- E8 Vandalism. child molester. Sep 25, 1996
- E9 Sex discrimination, damaged car. Sep 26, 1996
- E10 Diamond-ring dispute; roommates. Sep 27, 1996
- E11 Noisy old lady; dog bite. Sep 30, 1996
- E12 Deadbeat dad; unpaid loan. Oct 1, 1996
- E13 Difficult break-up; medical-bill suit. Oct 2, 1996
- E14 Lemon; real-estate transaction. Oct 3, 1996
- E15 Culture Clash Oct 4, 1996
- E16 Free-loading guests; dog kills rabbit. Oct 7, 1996
- E17 Unsettled loan agreement; daughter's tattoo Oct 8, 1996
- E18 A faulty toy. Oct 9, 1996
- E19 Disturbing the peace; dog bites boy. Oct 10, 1996
- E20 Guests debate the legalization of drugs. Oct 11, 1996
- E21 Single mother sues her lover; airplane-ticket suit. Oct 14, 1996
- E22 TV repairman; teen's phone bill. Oct 15, 1996
- E23 Computer-dating service; married man has girlfriend buy him a car Oct 16, 1996
- E24 Car trade turns violent; sick dogs. Oct 17, 1996
- E25 Noisy granny; plumber cons woman Oct 18, 1996
- E26 Dog fight; roommates split. Oct 21, 1996
- E27 Vehicle title; restaurant sued. Oct 22, 1996
- E28 Unpaid loans. Oct 23, 1996
- E29 Estate contested; vacation expenses. Oct 24, 1996
- E30 Animal cruelty (ft. Bea Arthur as a witness). Oct 25, 1996
- E31 A damaged motorcycle; woman sues former boss. Oct 28, 1996
- E32 A damaged truck; filmmakers sue music producer. Oct 29, 1996
- E33 Business deal goes bust; racial slurs are scratched into a car. Oct 30, 1996
- E34 Woman sues ex-husband; ruined wedding photos. Oct 31, 1996
- E35 Man sues mother-in-law; an unpaid loan. Nov 1, 1996
- E36 Landlord's sexual harassment. Nov 4, 1996
- E37 Rape case. Nov 5, 1996
- E38 Breast implants. Nov 6, 1996
- E39 Fender bender; actor's compensation. Nov 7, 1996
- E40 Brawl injuries. Nov 8, 1996
- E41 Episode 41 Nov 11, 1996
- E42 Episode 42 Nov 12, 1996
- E43 Episode 43 Nov 13, 1996
- E44 Episode 44 Nov 14, 1996
- E45 Episode 45 Nov 15, 1996
- E46 Episode 46 Nov 18, 1996
- E47 Episode 47 Nov 19, 1996
- E48 Episode 48 Nov 20, 1996
- E49 Episode 49 Nov 21, 1996
- E50 Episode 50 Nov 22, 1996
- E51 Episode 51 Nov 25, 1996
- E52 Episode 52 Nov 26, 1996
- E53 Episode 53 Nov 27, 1996
- E54 Episode 54 Nov 28, 1996
- E55 Episode 55 Nov 29, 1996
- E56 Episode 56 Dec 2, 1996
- E57 Episode 57 Dec 3, 1996
- E58 Episode 58 Dec 4, 1996
- E59 Episode 59 Dec 5, 1996
- E60 Episode 60 Dec 6, 1996
- E61 Episode 61 Dec 9, 1996
- E62 Episode 62 Dec 10, 1996
- E63 Episode 63 Dec 11, 1996
- E64 Episode 64 Dec 12, 1996
- E65 Episode 65 Dec 13, 1996
- E66 Episode 66 Dec 16, 1996
- E67 Episode 67 Dec 17, 1996
- E68 Episode 68 Dec 18, 1996
- E69 Episode 69 Dec 19, 1996
- E70 Episode 70 Dec 20, 1996
- E71 Episode 71 Dec 23, 1996
- E72 Episode 72 Dec 24, 1996
- E73 Episode 73 Dec 25, 1996
- E74 Episode 74 Dec 26, 1996
- E75 Episode 75 Dec 27, 1996
- E76 Episode 76 Dec 30, 1996
- E77 Episode 77 Dec 31, 1996
- E78 Episode 78 Jan 1, 1997
- E79 Episode 79 Jan 2, 1997
- E80 Episode 80 Jan 3, 1997
- E81 Episode 81 Jan 6, 1997
- E82 Episode 82 Jan 7, 1997
- E83 Episode 83 Jan 8, 1997
- E84 Episode 84 Jan 9, 1997
- E85 Episode 85 Jan 10, 1997
- E86 Episode 86 Jan 13, 1997
- E87 Episode 87 Jan 14, 1997
- E88 Episode 88 Jan 15, 1997
- E89 Episode 89 Jan 16, 1997
- E90 Episode 90 Jan 17, 1997
- E91 Episode 91 Jan 20, 1997
- E92 Episode 92 Jan 21, 1997
- E93 Episode 93 Jan 22, 1997
- E94 Episode 94 Jan 23, 1997
- E95 Episode 95 Jan 27, 1997
Season 2 · 10 episodes
Season 3 · 2 episodes
Frequently asked questions
Is Judge Judy a real judge?
Yes, Judith Sheindlin is a retired Manhattan Family Court judge.
Are the cases real?
The disputes are real, but the proceedings are structured as arbitration.
How much can be awarded?
Damages are capped at $5,000 per case.
When did the show premiere?
The show first aired on September 16, 1996.
Is the show still airing new episodes?
No, the show concluded in 2021 after 25 seasons.