The People’s Court was originally recorded in Manhattan for the first 15 seasons of its revival. However, starting from the 16th season in 2012-13, it has been taped in Stamford, Connecticut.
The People's Court is an American court show that uses arbitration to settle small claims disputes in a simulated courtroom setting. It was the first arbitration-based reality-style program in the court show genre and has since become the norm. The original series aired from 1981 to 1993, and a revival premiered in 1997, with both versions being shown in first-run syndication.
As of the 2022-23 television year, The People's Court has had 38 overall seasons, making it the longest-running traditional court show and the second-longest-running court show in general, with only niche court show Divorce Court having more seasons by two. The program is the third-highest-rated court show, following only Judge Judy reruns (whose original run ended in July 2021) and Hot Bench, which was produced by Judy Sheindlin. With Judge Judy's 25-season run coming to an end in 2021, The People's Court's revival has become the longest-running show in the genre, having begun its 26th season in the 2022-23 television year, despite having gone through three arbitrators.
In June 2021, the show won its fourth Daytime Emmy Award, officially making it the court show with the most Daytime Emmy wins. However, in February 2023, it was announced that the season 26 of the revival would be its last.
Who are the Judges of The People’s Court?
In the original version of The People's Court, former Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joseph Wapner was the sole presiding judge. However, in the current incarnation of the show, there have been different presiding judges.
Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch served from 1997 to 1999, former New York Supreme Court Judge Jerry Sheindlin served from 1999 to 2001, and former Florida State Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Milian has been the show's presiding judge since 2001. Milian has been the show's longest-reigning arbiter, having presided over the series for 20 years as of spring 2021.
How did the production of The People’s Court start?
John Masterson initially conceived the idea of a camera-in-court concept in 1975, which he first presented to producer and Let's Make a Deal host Monty Hall and producer-writer Stefan Hatos. They assigned Stu Billett, a young associate, to pitch the idea, but the networks were not interested.
Billett then developed the concept into a show filmed in a studio setting, where small claims court participants agreed to drop their cases and accept binding arbitration in a simulated courtroom. While the networks showed interest, they did not purchase the show, and it was eventually sold into the first-run syndication market.
The series was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who created and hosted This Is Your Life, and Stu Billett, who later created Moral Court. John Masterson, considered by many as a pioneer and originator of reality TV, also created Bride and Groom and Breakfast in Hollywood.
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