Do Judge Judy and Her Fellow TV Jurists Do an Injustice to the Justice System?
September 2007 PRESS CONTACT: Chris Ruys Communications, Inc. Chris Ruys (312) 337-7746, ‘ ); document.write( addy16615 ); document.write( ” ); //–>\n ‘ ); //–> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ‘ ); //–> If you’re a fan of The People’s Court or one of any number of the so-called “reality based” TV court shows, you may believe you’re observing typical courtroom behavior. On these shows, judges turned TV stars shout at litigants, use intemperate language and often demean the parties. Unlike real judges who dispense real justice in our communities, TV judges seek high ratings and advertising dollars. Consequently, what you watch “is an inaccurate portrayal of judicial proceedings which can add to the confusion and fear about judges and the courtroom,” says Hon. Mark A. Schuering, a judge in the 8th Judicial Circuit in Quincy, and president of the Illinois Judges Association (IJA). The behavior typically seen on these shows wo
