Judge Judy's Secret Exposed: How The Show Is Still Going After 20 Years

Most of us have sat at home on a sick, rainy day and found ourselves watching Judge Judy: the show that has made its no-nonsense titular star one of the richest women in television.

And believe it or not, it celebrates 20 years on air this week.

With over 5500 episodes, 73-year-old Judge Judith Sheindlin has adjudicated a seemingly inexhaustible supply of real-life small claim disputes, ruling that those in the wrong must pay the other party anywhere up to US$5000 in damages.

You might wonder - how, after 20 years on air, does Judge Judy still manage to get willing participants for the show? Why would anyone run the risk of international TV humiliation and a public dressing down when you could tend to the matter in the relative privacy of a small claims court?

The answer is simple. In return for appearing on the show, the producers cover all costs in Judge Judy's rulings.

Wait, what?! So they don't actually "pay" for their crime?

That's right: every single one of Judge Judy's rulings - that aggrieved party 'A' has to pay aggrieved party 'B' a sum of several hundred or thousand dollars to cover the costs of trashing their house / totalling their car / killing their budgie - said costs are covered by the show, from a fund reserved specifically for this purpose.

And not only will you not lose out financially by going on Judge Judy, you actually stand to make a little bit of money - even if she rules against you.

Both the plaintiff and the defendant receive an appearance fee for their time on the show. This appearance fee can vary from $100 to $500, depending on time spent filming.

In addition to this, all travel and accommodation costs are covered by the show: Judge Judy producers will fly you to Los Angeles, put you up in a hotel, and fly you home, regardless of whether you win or lose your case.

Think of it as an all-expenses-paid holiday, with your one obligation showing up for a televised 'court' appearance.

Okay, that's a pretty sweet deal.

- nzherald.co.nz