You can stream all 61 25-minute episodes at once from Judy Justice Season 3 on Amazon Freevee, if that’s your thing. Which is sure to be a lot of watching a wealthy ex-jurist put ordinary people in their place during a small-screen version of small claims court. But then again, appearing on Judge Judy for over 6,000 episodes earned Judy Sheindlin hundreds of millions of dollars, so there remains a durable market for daytime television officiating. Judy Justicewhich first aired in 2021, offers some visual tweaks to the family series. Judge Judy format adds a new sheriff: Fan favorite Petri Hawkins-Byrd is now sheriff in the spin-off created by Sheindlin Court of law – and also amplifies potential monetary damages from $5,000 to $10,000.
JUDY JUSTICE – SEASON 3STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening shot: When the plaintiff and defendant enter, we are introduced to those on the stand: the judge herself, who Judy Justice The judge is wearing a maroon robe with the collar of his white lace blouse removed; the bailiff is Kevin Rasco; the stenographer is Whitney Kumar; and the court clerk is Sarah Rose, who sits to the judge’s right. Sarah Rose Levy is Judy Sheindlin’s real-life granddaughter.
The essence: As it has been since then The People’s Court This format debuted in 1981, Judy Justice It begins with descriptions of its contestants and their respective disputes. Season 3 of the series will feature everything from disputes between landlords and tenants, arguments between a man and his current and former girlfriends, and pet custody battles, plus many other issues that cause drama in the courtrooms and that the show’s investigators search through court records across the country. But as the season begins, it’s an argument at a children’s baseball game that’s playing out before the judge.
“Calvin Green is suing youth baseball coach Francisco Bagues for lost wages and damages for an assault.” At stake? The maximum penalty of $10,000. As Green, an umpire, says youth baseball coach Bagues put his hands on him and raised his fist, Bagues tries to explain the mitigating circumstances of his anger, which involve a disagreement involving baseball tournament officials, team parents angry over participation fees and allegations of cheating.
Sheindlin behaves like a typical TV actor during these proceedings, which typically involve a combination of putting people in her courtroom on the spot and then cutting them off, gathering bits and pieces of each person’s story and applying that information to her ruling, and a few references to her grandchildren that are perhaps supposed to offer levity but mostly seem forced. Sheindlin typically hears one case at a time, though Judy Justice Occasionally, it will feature a two-in-one episode, and again it will maintain the usual format, with litigants having the opportunity to comment once the judgment has been issued. Judy Justice It also includes a final segment from inside the judge’s chambers, which recaps the action in the courtroom and usually features law clerk Sarah Rose giving her interpretation of Sheindlin’s latest ruling.
What shows will it remind you of? While Judy Sheindlin Judy Justice It is in direct daily competition with reruns of his old show. Judge JudyThere are many other small claims courts in the reality TV landscape. Would you take your dispute to Judge Steve HarveyOr what about Star Jones, who has been a presenter? Divorce Court since 2022? And did you know that Tubi streams episodes of Gary Busey: Pet JudgeWhat exactly does it look like?
Our opinion: The perennial popularity of television shows about judges proves that people love watching other people get beat up. It has to be that way, right? Or at least for the most part. Maybe we see a little of ourselves and all our respective little problems in the small claims cases being tried. After all, isn’t that a big part of it all, and part of the reason people agree to appear on these shows in the first place? That each of us simply wants to be heard?
Whatever the problems and relative solutions that we, the viewers, project onto a television courtroom, the fact of the format’s durability remains true, and Judy Justice The drama relies directly on the popularity of the previous version of its star. At times it seems like Judy Sheindlin is not only the main attraction, but the only attraction, as she tends to give short shrift to the explanations and answers presented in the courtroom, and Justice She uses relentlessly fast edits to build tension and present the judge as the only voice that really matters. There’s always a moment when you feel which way she’s leaning, and the cameras are there to catch the unhinged loser litigator. “He’s old enough to be your father! How dare you lay your hands on him?” It’s a line from the Season 3 premiere. But you can bet Sheindlin has a version of that for each of the characters. Judy JusticeThere are many, many episodes.
Sex and skin: None.
Parting shot: In the usual post-match interviews outside the courtroom, heated opinions on the ruling are split down the middle, with “I think it was a little unfair” versus “I think the judge made the right decision.” Judy Justice It also adds its final segment, called “Chambers,” where the judge discusses the case and ruling with her law clerk.
Sleeping Star: The plaintiff’s son describes a situation that resembles every viral news story about adults who should know better than to misbehave during youth sports. “When he attacked the tournament director, no one bothered to stop him. And after I stood up for my father, five of the parents jumped on me…”
Our calling: If you are already a fan of the court reality TV format, Judy Justice It’s a STREAM IT. It has all the components of this enduring type of daytime television, enhanced by the presence of Judy Sheindlin. The name of her show has changed, but the judge’s attitude in court has not.
Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is a freelance writer and editor based in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift.
