It is apparent that Insider is relying largely, if not entirely, upon questionable uncorroborated sources, disgruntled former employees, and unfounded allegations, the vast majority of which date back fifteen to twenty years, to paint a false narrative regarding Mr. Douthit and the show.". Also effective March 7, 2022, the Judicial Branch requests but is not requiring jurors and prospective jurors to wear a mask while in the jury assembly room or the jury deliberation room. Judith Sheindlin has been the sole judge, jury and verbal executioner for the last quarter century on her behemoth TV court show, "Judge Judy." Her trusted bailiff, Petri Hawkins Byrd, has stood . For the past decade, the show has been the top-rated program in first-run syndication, according to The New York Times, with about 10 million Americans tuning in daily. Seven sources told Insider that Jenest also encouraged the practice through the use of her "count" a tally of cases that producers had booked, and which these people said specifically categorized cases involving Black litigants and people over 40. Getlins Times profile of the former family court judge helped launch her to stardom. In 2019, the judge was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys. During some cases the courtroom audience is visible behind litigants but others it is not. A red-faced Petri said he handed Judy back her robe and glasses and promptly offered to resign. I have enough mouthwash in the cabinets to keep the entire planets breath fresh until the next millennium. ", "While we can't comment on personnel matters that were investigated and addressed, we want to be clear that the egregious behavior, or patterns of behavior, like those described in this article are not tolerated at CBS or at any of our productions," a CBS Media Ventures spokesperson wrote in an email. Many states also still have in-person filing hours or drop-off services that allow for contactless in-person delivery of court filings. large parts of the northeast are under a winter storm warning from new jersey to maine. Back in May, the show went the virtual route because of quarantine. Mask wearing is an effective prevention strategy against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. Its a moment that would be familiar to anyone whos watched the Emmy-winning phenomenon which is to say, just about anyone but as the courtroom cleared and the set went dark, history was made. PHILADELPHIA When Miltreda Kress came before family court Judge Lyris Younge, she hoped to explain why the city's removal of her three minor . "Judge Judy" announced her longtime reality TV court show will end after 25 seasons and a new show coming soon. Among federal district courts, at least nine have had employees test positive for Covid-19 since the outset of the pandemic. George Floyd, the Minneapolis man who died in police custody in May 2020, appeared on "Judge Judy" as a teenager. "You're told to stick to the [show's] law, but then you'rebeing told by the head producer that he needs a show do whatever you can to make a show, OK, but if I do that, are you telling me my job's on the line? Historic information concerning the Court's criminal operations during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found here. When a US appeals court ruled this week that Texas could prevent physicians from performing abortions because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the judges leaned heavily on a 1905 Supreme Court decision . From March through the end of September, there were a total of 50. "He likes that," Jenest told her, according to Griggs' deposition. IMDb TV does not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form, and individuals working on our productions are encouraged to raise concerns. He also discouraged booking cases with older litigants, the former producers said. The contractors case, running Tuesday, marks the last of more than 12,500 taped by Sheindlin during 25 years in the spotlight. "Ms. Bullock never filed a lawsuit, was never paid any money in connection with the complaint, and voluntarily elected not to continue pursuing her claims.". For a courtroom TV show that has dominated daytime since 1998, the case decided April 15 on "Judge Judy" was hardly memorable: A building contractor who repaired a ceiling was suing the. Judge Judy Sheindlin returns to the courtroom in Judy Justice on Nov. 1, 2021. ", Contributing:Hannah Yasharoff andCydney Henderson, 'Grey's Anatomy'is 'not responsible for politicizing COVID,' Ellen Pompeo says of new pandemic season, The 10 TV showsyou should binge-watch to celebrate Halloween 2020, ShowBiz Minute: Johansson, Judge Judy, Halloween, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost marry; Judge Judy's next act will be with IMDb TV; Animals at ZSL London Zoo have been enjoying Halloween treats to celebrate the spookiest day of the year. "Seventy-five percent of the staff and crew from 'Judge Judy' now works at 'Judy Justice,'" a spokesman for Sheindlin added. She watched nervously in her bedroom with her husband, Jerry Sheindlin, a New York Supreme Court judge, and was relieved that correspondent Morley Safer had treated her fairly. 2. As family members joined with her to celebrate, producers had a surprise: They played a video tribute with cameos by Jimmy Kimmel, Whoopi Goldberg, Ryan Seacrest, Kelly Ripa, Joy Behar, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Meghan McCain and Wendy Williams. Coronavirus, Divorce Court, Hot Bench, Jerry Springer, Judge Mathis, Marilyn Milian, The People's Court, Broadcast Industry News, Featured, Reality Show Production Design. Staffers expressed fears about continuing to work at the office the building was poorly ventilated, with sealed windows, and they were worried about interacting with litigants and getting family members sick. Shirley MacLaine will play her in a movie someday, Heidi said. According to three former employees, she also nixed cases involving strippers. She smoked and worked out like a fiend to ward off the stress. "Judy ran the ship, so if she didn't want to do it, you didn't do it," Byrd told Insider. According to Sheindlin, it was Poehler who had called the Television Academy and asked if she could present the judge with the award, because "she is a huge fan. He did not respond to multiple requests for comment. She loved the piece, saying it was honest and fair. Good timing also brought Byrd, 62, his role on " Judge Judy ," which starts its 25th and final season Monday. The court said the states could not challenge the program because they weren't harmed by it. ", In an email, Lyttle told Insider that he "would not have hired Mr. Douthit or anyone else if I had any knowledge that they had 'prior problems of abuse of women.'. May 27, 2022 3:46pm Updated Judge Judy, 79, has presented her granddaughter Sarah Rose, 24, with her Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. Byrd has a great voice, is a terrific storyteller and is generous with his time and talent to many worthy organizations.. That night, we went to a diner with my friend Elaine and her husband, Barry, to celebrate, she recalls. Her decisions were legally binding, and the litigants couldn't appeal her decision in a regular court of law. "Judy had to be the first person to go through the lunch line, as if she was the queen of England," one of these people said. But if you think Her Honor is slowing down, think again. She brought in a whopping $47 million a year for just 52 days a year of filming at CBS, and she has held onto the sort of cultural cachet that has eluded many of her contemporaries. Judge Judy awarded a maximum payout of $ 5, 000, an amount that has been doubled on Judy Justice; it's likely the higher sum is designed to attract more participants. March 16, 2020 The COVID-19 virus has not only radically changed the daily lives of Americans, it is beginning to affect the U.S. justice system. It just goes to show you that if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans. It might be a little different from mine.". Former employees said that Jenest encouraged them to alter litigants' cases adding extra claims to a case for juicier television, for example. April 22, 2021 As New York continues to reopen and pandemic restrictions are slowly lifted, the sprawling federal and state court systems have lumbered back to life, transforming how they operate. The pair shared an exclusive photo with The. one former producer told Insider. Television executives learned this the hard way, when Judy put on a master class in how to get paid what she was worth, given the shows astronomical profits without even the semblance of negotiations. Once Jenest hit this quota, the former producer said, she would stop accepting cases featuring Black litigants. Asked whether he remembered telling producers to screen out Black litigants, Douthit said he couldn't recall. She just wants the money in her pocket, and she doesn't care how the producers are treated," a former producer added. 'At every wrap party, she is the first one out on the dance floor. Griggs complained about the treatment to human resources, but said in her lawsuit that Douthit was never formally disciplined. Judge Judy recently channeled her. The country is reflecting on historic and current inequities with a goal of meaningful change, she says. A California court uses . Judge Judy debuted its 25th and final season of new episodes this fall. Contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (714) 833-8487 using a non-work phone, via encrypted email at neinbinder@protonmail.com, via standard email atneinbinder@insider.com,or Twitter DM @NicoleEinbinder. New episodes are taped without an audience, a noticeable difference as Sheindlins jokes and occasional dressing-down of litigants arent supported with giggles from the TV crowd. Please be aware, operations continue to change regularly in order to . According to Griggs' allegations, Douthit, in the control room, openly talked about female litigants' breasts during show tapings and discussed whether they were "too ugly" or "too fat." The 5-foot-2 family-court judge known for her black robe, lace collar, and acid tongue has been doling out tough-love legal verdicts since the Clinton administration, and the approach has. Worst-case scenario someone we know will die. Video Transcript [MUSIC PLAYING] It was just another tragedy in family court. "On August 24, when we start our first trials, jurors will enter courtrooms that look nothing like what they would expect," said Chief Judge James K. Bredar, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. I learned later that shed found a Manhattan newsstand that sold the Sunday Los Angeles Times and snapped up all the copies. Contact the municipal court for details on hours and operating procedures. "Tart, tough-talking, and hopelessly blunt, Sheindlin runs her court with an impatience that borders on rage," read a 1993 profile, adding: "Bullying and often rude, Sheindlin scorches people with insults, leaving them speechless.". Who is allowed to be in the courtroom for protection order hearings during COVID-19? Arraignment, where . Griggs went on medical leave in the winter of 2001; she eventually left the show. Former employees said they were required to submit photos of litigant candidates to Jenest and Douthit to make sure they had, among other things, intact teeth a particular concern of Douthit's, according to these former employees. In April, a judge in South Florida temporarily took custody away from a doctor because she treated patients with COVID-19, the Miami Herald reported. For a courtroom TV show that has dominated daytime since 1998, the case decided April 15 on Judge Judy was hardly memorable: A building contractor who repaired a ceiling was suing the homeowner for an unpaid $500 bill. If we settle for mediocrity, we get what we deserve.". Biden's plan, which would cancel $20,000 in student debt for Pell Grant . Id begun a series about hardworking Americans who shook the bureaucratic cage with little or no success, but kept tilting at windmills. In response, she recalled, Lyttle askedsomething like, "If he doesn't like women, why does he hire them?". "We . May 27, 2022: General Guidelines for the Use of Remote Proceedings Post-Covid. Frequently Asked Question and Court Business General Supreme and Appellate Court Civil Matters Family Matters Criminal Matters. Petri, 54, said on Australian breakfast show Studio 10 on Tuesday that despite her tough on-screen persona, the 77-year-old actually enjoys a good laugh. recalled one incident when he was caught doing an impersonation of Judy in her courtroom in New York. And then hell go, You have no idea what youre about to embark on. But I trust God and I trust the ride, and the process has been wonderful., Petri Hawkins Byrd, bailiff on the reality court television program "Judge Judy," poses for portrait, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. When I asked if there were any rules to follow, I got my first dose of what later would become familiar to millions: No chewing gum, she snapped. He reached a settlement agreement for an undisclosed amount in May 2009. Watts said he's noticed more renters are appearing, unlike when hearings are in person. Sebastien alleged that when he complained, Douthit replied that the producers "had no choice, they had to book white upscale, pretty people," and that they should instead send their "Black cases" to "Judge Joe Brown," another Big Ticket Television program, which starred a Black judge. ", Seven former employees contacted by Insider said Douthit made crude remarks about litigants well after Griggs' lawsuit. Staffers expected that he would present the award, he said, given their long-standing relationship. By Erik Ortiz. ), Since the beginning, Douthit, an alum of CNN's "Larry King Live," which he created and executive produced, was by her side. One former associate producer recalled a meeting in 2011 or 2012 in which they said Douthit told staffers not to bring in too many Black people, because it would make the show look "ghetto." In Texas, pre-COVID-19, there were 186 trials a week on average, said David Slayton, administrative director of the courts. Every once in a while you meet someone who falls into your life and changes your life.. "I'm like, 'Whoa, I don't even know if that happened, though, Vicky,'" one producer said. Byrd says he doesnt watch episodes but occasionally catches them playing in the waiting room during visits to the doctor. Instead, it was presented by Amy Poehler. But according to allegations in court records, the show had another rule: Douthit told producers he didn't want Black litigants on the show. Matters Being Heard. "He definitely didn't talk about them like they were people, it was like they were subhuman," one former associate producer said. And leave your gun at home.. I watched Sheindlin in action for three weeks, handling 50 to 60 cases a day. Barry, who later became a segment producer, said in her declaration that she personally witnessed Douthit's behavior, which she characterized as "erratic." Speaking generally about Sheindlin's relationship with Douthit, a different former producer told Insider, "Judy knew she was untouchable, Randy knew Judy was untouchable, and Randy also knows that Judy would protect him at all costs.". Sheindlin, 78, revealed to Ellen DeGeneres in March that her current series, "Judge Judy," which is syndicated to local TV stations, will end in May after 25 seasons. On Thursday, Amazon. Judge Judys final season on CBS ends Sept. 10. When she approached Jenest for advice on how to deal with the way Douthit treated her, she said, Jenest told her to "schmooze" and "flirt a little" with Douthit. One night, Judy took Alex, then 8, by the hand to meet Michael Feinstein, a Grammy-nominated performer and music historian, who was a friend. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images; Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Samantha Lee/Insider, Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty, according to an affidavit obtained by Insider, according to interviews and court records obtained by Insider, told her to "schmooze" and "flirt a little" with Douthit. Some of the bullet points didn't offer a lot of solace. A federal judge in the Southern District of New York permitted a medically vulnerable witness to testify remotely from a courtroom in Dallas, noting that "there is no question that limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting at-risk individuals from exposure to the virus are critically important public policies" and that the witness "who is in Get our L.A. "I'm like, then I guess I'd have to ask you to define your definition of friend. Nancy Barry, who worked as Douthit's assistant from 1996 to 1998, said she received several complaints about Douthit's behavior from women working on the show, according to a declaration she filed in Griggs' lawsuit. ), In the mid- to late 2000s, Douthit also allegedly carried out a relationship with one of his junior staffers, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter and six who were subsequently told about it. About 4,500 people appear remotely each day for hearings, and Ann Donlan, a court spokeswoman, said that all courtrooms about 600 across the county have the capability to conduct remote. judge of a municipal court must consult with the local health authority and county judge/mayor.7 Documentation (e.g. first, the severe weather causing havoc coast-to-coast. With great ceremony, they swore her in as a citizen of New York City. It happens because there is a positive work environment where there is mutual respect. Circuit Judge Charlie Crawford said criminal cases started moving along once jury trials were restarted in July. Details and full text of the order can be found here. The dogs dont even bark at the delivery people anymore. They told me the show helped them take the next step, whether it was getting a divorce, leaving an abusive person, asking for a raise and never, ever becoming somebodys prisoner.. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many state courts will allow you to start your case electronically - either through email or the court's specific electronic filing system. In the letter to Insider, Douthit's lawyer wrote that "the assertion that Mr. Douthit engaged in racism in connection with casting decisions is completely false." During the March 12, 2020, meeting one day after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic Freisleben told producers they needed to continue booking litigants. Courtroom reality show "Judge Judy" is coming to an end after 25 years, host Judy Sheindlin has announced. At the same time, the national conversation around criminal justice, especially juvenile justice, has changed since her battles as a hard-liner in Family Court. 'One day she came back from lunch, in actual court. She capitalized on the attention with "Judge Judy," which premiered in 1996 and was produced by Big Ticket Television and distributed by CBS. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. which is the official hour to set all of our clocks ahead one hour. DC Superior Court Advisory - 3/20/2020 - 12:15pm. NewscastStudio, The trade publication broadcast production and related marks and trade dress are marks of NewscastStudio. (Oct. 30), 'Judge Judy' ending after 25 seasons, new show to follow soon. A still from Judge Judy, which concludes its 25-year run on CBS in September. According to a sampling of Douthit's reports reviewed by Insider, he called litigants "gross" and "low rent." But nothing addressed what Mr. Potter was about to encounter: a jury trial in the midst of a pandemic in which face coverings have become a matter of health and safety. According to a press release obtained by Fox News, the TV personality announced Thursday she is teaming up with IMDb TV and Amazon. She approached then-Big Ticket president Larry Lyttle and human resources about Douthit's behavior in 2000. The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard oral arguments on two challenges to President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. Take this down., HarperCollins bought the book, but we needed a snappy title. She said she forged close friendships and said she never heard Douthit speak inappropriately. (Haynes herself submitted a demand letter to CBS in August 2017, alleging that she was subjected to a pattern of discrimination at the show. The report, pitched by the Project as "a user's guide of . Elsewhere in his Studio 10 interview, Petri revealed that Judy is the life of the party when it comes to work functions. ", "I've never slighted her I've always thought of her as a friend. Dont steal other peoples property. (Her closest competitors, "Ellen" and "Dr. Phil," pulled in 2.9 million and 3.9 million viewers, respectively. Jun 17, 2021. Asked in a deposition if he grabbed Griggs and kissed her head, he replied, "When I saw her, I grabbed her and hugged her and kissed her on the top of her head and said, 'Welcome back.'". In June 2020, an old episode of the reality courtroom show . Despite these precautions, courts have faced challenges. The seasonal time change when we "spring forward" will occur on Sunday, March 12, a full week before the official start of spring on March 20. When staffers were successful, their cases then had to be approved, first by Jenest and then by Douthit. Because of the split nature of the production, wide shots of the set have been mostly eliminated, since they would make it obvious the judge is not in studio. The four Santa Barbara men charged in connection with a fatal shooting on Stearns Wharf in December pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing in Superior Court on Monday.