The People's Court

Overview

The People’s Court is an American reality program that presents small‑claims disputes in a simulated courtroom and resolves each case through binding arbitration. The series is currently presided over by retired Florida State Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Milian, who is the longest‑reigning arbiter in the show’s history. The format places the parties before a single judge who hears testimony and evidence, then issues a decision that is legally enforceable. Introduced in 1981, the program was the first court show to employ binding arbitration, a structure that has since been adopted by most successors in the judicial‑reality genre. Its longevity and popularity established it as the first long‑running reality series focused on courtroom proceedings, following only a few earlier, short‑lived attempts. Episodes continue to be produced, each featuring a new small‑claims case resolved on the program’s set. The series is classified as a reality and crime show and carries a TV‑PG rating.