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Behind the Scenes With America's Favorite (Current) TV Judge

By Eric Lipman

Way back in February, we brought you up to speed on the current status of Judge Joseph Wapner, late of "The People's Court." Wapner was undoubtedly a pioneer, and TPC spawned countless copycat shows, one of which has stood the test of time. I'm talking about "Judge Judy," starring former New York Family Court Judge Judith Sheindlin. And so was USA Today in a thorough profile in yesterday's paper (via the ABA Journal). The ABA Journal blurb picks up on the most jaw-dropping, and potentially rage-inducing, aspect of the profile. Namely, that Sheindlin is paid $45 million a year for 52 days' work. Take that, federal judiciary! I'm a big Judy fan, but had no idea that she clobbers Oprah in the ratings. Or that she has a private jet. The USA Today piece is worth reading, despite passages like the following: Watching a taping of Judge Judy can be a little like watching a mouse get dropped into a pet boa's glass case. There'll be some tension, some dramatic buildup, perhaps an attempted escape. But eventually, that mouse is going to get swallowed whole. So, too, do many of Sheindlin's hapless litigants (some of whom volunteer, while others are...

Full post as published by Legal Blog Watch on July 15, 2010 (boomark / email).