May 11, 2009 10:58 pm US/Pacific
Call Kurtis: One-On-One With Judge Judy
Kurtis Goes Behind The Scenes Of Court Show
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
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"Judy treats it as her courtroom. She owns it as her courtroom. The cameras are incidental," the show's executive producer said.
CBS
The no nonsense, 5 foot 1 inch judge says society has changed allowing a soft approach to bad behavior; but not in her court room. Sitting across from me for a one-on-one interview, she said, "I'm not an actress. This is how I conducted business when I was in the family court, and this is how I conduct my business here and now."
Sure there are lights and cameras, a paid court-room audience, a fake computer on set, and a New York flag behind her in the Hollywood studio where she tapes, but Executive Producer and Director Randy Douthit insists the court that Judge Judith Sheindlin runs is pretty close to the real thing.
"Judy treats it as her courtroom. She owns it as her courtroom. The cameras are incidental," Randy said.
"I deal with people directly and if people act like fools, I'm going to tell them they're acting like a fool and I'm going to say it my way," Judge Judy said.
Her sidekick, Bailiff Petri Hawkins-Byrd, lives in Elk Grove. He was her bailiff in New York Family Court before moving to San Mateo to work as a counselor at a San Jose school.
Fourteen years ago, when he heard Sheindlin was getting a show, he wrote her a letter to congratulate her -- then the phone rang.
"I go, 'Who's this?'" Petri said.
"She goes 'Officer Byrd, Judge Sheindlin, how are you?'"
"I said, 'oh God, Judge Judy,' actually 'Judge Sheindlin,' I never called her by her first name. She thanked me for the letter, and she said, 'By the way, you were kidding at the end of the letter, I need a bailiff. You still look good in uniform? I need a bailiff.'"
Since 1996, Byrd has commuted to Los Angeles every other week for two to three days of tapings standing sternly with his arms crossed during each case. He says it beats working.
Executive Producer and Director Randy Douthit says they take a lot of cases from Sacramento. When asked why, he replied, "I have no idea. What's going on in Sacramento?"
During the Monday, May 11th episode, Judge Judy heard the case of Roseville's Renae Lamb. She sued a reception hall after she says the air conditioner didn't work on her wedding day. She says it forced her big day to be cut short.
We got involved and the reception hall faxed me a contract that was changed from the contract Lamb signed. Lamb sued, and two days before it was to be heard in Placer County Court, producers from Judge Judy called. Researchers found her case, and the show asked if she'd agree to present it on the show.
During the case, Judge Judy called the actions of the defendants "outrageous". Lamb was awarded $1400.
I asked Judy if she ever watched the show and thought she was too harsh on someone or should have given them the benefit of the doubt. The quick-witted Sheindlin responded, "Most of the time when I watch the show, I watch to see how I look. That's the truth," she said, laughing.
The Judge Judy Show pays for airfare, food and lodging and a nominal appearance fee. If the plaintiffs win, the show pays the judgment. In the fall, "Judge Judy" starts its 14th season.
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Raw: Interview With Judge Judy
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