QuakerInfo.com Forum

[Anthony]

I like to watch Judge Judy, who is very popular in the UK, but I am appalled at the freedom she has to speak to those before her bench in whatever manner she wishes. I know that for even a fraction of what she says to those before her would not be acceptable in the UK. Are there no human rights in the US that prohibit a public servant from publicly humiliating those before them? How can a civilised county allow civil servants to be so personal and downright offensive to those supplicant to them? I watched her today humiliate a lady who said she was on medication for mental health problems, she verbally attacked her saying the most discriminatory and unacceptable things to her about her condition. What does this say about America that it can denigrate those with no power who are simply trying to rectify a problem in the small claims court - a legal court and not a theatre or arena with victims to be verbally assaulted? Please don't tell me not to watch it as that's not the point but why is she allowed to get away with it? Not only that but she is paid millions for doing it for worldwide TV!

[Kiahanie]

"Judge Judy" is entertainment, not real law in a real courtroom. (Judith used to be a judge, though.) The cases, however, are real, and the participants have agreed to have their case decided by Judge Judy on television rather than by a real judge in a court of law. So they have agreed to whatever verbal abuse she chooses to hand out.

That said, judges have a great deal of latitude in addressing defendants, but judicial ethics, libel and slander laws still apply.
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"There is a field out beyond right and wrong. I'll meet you there." --Jellaludin Rumi

[Shay]

She's not a real judge (now) any more than Jerry Springer is a real community facilitator.

[Pulpculture]

What about Jerry's "Final Thought"?

Powerful stuff in the right hands
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I said don't forget Burma!

[Anthony]

[Anthony]

Hi
Following the enlightening feedback about JJ I have carried out my own research on the program. It seems there have been numerous complaints along the same lines as my own: the show does give a bad impression of the US small claims judicial system and we in the UK don't don't question whether it is 'real' or not. I don't know if I should tell my 80+ aunty as she is a great fan and records all of the shows. I wouldn't like to disillion her.

I simply could not understand how on earth JJ got away with being such a bully in a US court. I guess many of us in the UK got the wrong idea from this program but I feel sure that even those that sign contracts are either daft, stupid or from another planet not to know how they will be treated.

Wikipedia was helpful:

While the cases on Judge Judy are actual small claims court cases, it is not a public court of law (like all court TV shows) but rather a private arbitration court, and all parties must sign contracts agreeing to arbitration under Sheindlin.

I really can't get over that I fell for JJ even though I understand that there is a disclaimer at the end of the show saying that it is not a real court.

It seems that Judith Sheindlin did not even have a licence to practice in California.

Just for the interest: Since the show started1996 it has led the ratings in such themed shows and has been nominated 13 times for Daytime Emmy Awards. It has run for over 17 seasons and Judy's contract has been renewed until 2015, running into 19 shows. She even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It seems very popular in America even though it is fake.

[lkindr]

* I presume that the show's creators or producers wanted the viewers to hear the judge's thoughts, so as to help explain her rulings, which also makes the cases more interesting. So, if you pretend that her abusive comments are her private thoughts, the shows are probably then much like a real small claims court.
* All that said, I feel that courts and governments in general in the U.S. and probably most of the world are highly abusive and do not protect human rights nearly enough. That's why I started my thread, Consensus to End Power Abuse.
* Can anyone list some of the specific abuses of their governments?
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Good Day!

[Kiahanie]

The list is too long for a quick answer. I'll be back to this when I have more time.
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"There is a field out beyond right and wrong. I'll meet you there." --Jellaludin Rumi