# Judge Judy season 1

The first season of arbitration-based reality court show Judge Judy aired from September 16, 1996, to September 5, 1997, and consisted of 220 episodes. The season is currently streamed on Paramount Global's Pluto TV courtroom station.

## Reception

Prior to the court show debuting, it had been promoted as "Hot Bench," then "Hot Bench with Judge Judy" before ultimately becoming Judge Judy. When the series launched in September 1996, it went on the air with little media attention and publicity. By the end of October 1996, the show was averaging only a 1.5 rating, putting it in the mid-rank of the 159 syndicated shows on the air. At that time, it was never expected that the show's ratings would ever compete with highly successful daytime TV shows of that era, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Jerry Springer Show.
According to Biography's documentary film on Sheindlin, "Judge Judy: Sitting in Judgment" (aired February 21, 2000), producers of Judge Judy were disappointed that the show was barely making it on the radar. It did not take long, however, for the court show to pick up momentum as Judge Judy rose to a 2.1 rating by the end of this first season.
The series premiered as the 3rd arbitration-based reality style court show, preceded by The People's Court (at the time, in an extended hiatus from cancelation due to low ratings after 12 seasons) and Jones & Jury (lasting only the 1994–95 season, short-lived from low ratings).

## Celebrity guests litigants and witnesses

In contrast to the vast majority of the show's run which did not consist of any celebrities, occasional celebrity guest litigants and witnesses were not uncommon in the court show's very early seasons. Bea Arthur, famed actress from television series Maude and The Golden Girls, appeared in season 1, episode 30 on October 25, 1996. In her appearance, Arthur served as a witness for a defendant associated with animal-rights organization PETA.

## Unaired Hot Bench pilot before Judge Judy began

Not to be confused with the series premiere, the show's 1995 pilot episode used to sell the program to Big Ticket by a talent agency (later known as "Rebel Entertainment Partners") has never aired on television.
At the time of 1995 pilot before the show's official 1996 premiere, the court show's title was "Hot Bench" before later transitioning to Judge Judy. The pilot consisted of a test actor playing the role of bailiff as opposed to Petri Hawkins-Byrd, who ended up with the court show as bailiff for its entire 25 season run. This resulted from Sheindlin feeling there was a lack of chemistry between her and the pilot episode bailiff, and subsequently refusing him and other proposed actors the opportunity in favor of Byrd. Her work relationship with Byrd predates the courtroom series as he was her bailiff on a rotating basis in the Manhattan family court system from 1986 to 1989. When Byrd later sent Sheindlin a congratulatory letter in 1995, she asked if he would be her bailiff and he accepted.
On May 21, 2021, Sheindlin was asked by USA Today what she recalled of her Judge Judy pilot episode. Sheindlin responded by expressing great disfavor with the pilot, indicating that Judge Judy producers only set up fictionalized cases for that episode and steered her to dramatized reactions and behaviors. This ultimately ended up in Sheindlin's production team sending only bits and pieces of the pilot to CBS for approval of the show's broadcast. During the interview, Sheindlin recounted:
   I remember that somebody then was trying to fit me into a sort of cookie cutter (mold). They had seen the 60 minutes [documentary], and they thought the approach that they saw in 60 minutes could be almost a caricature, and I'm not a caricature of that person, I am that person. So the cases that they brought to me to do the pilot were not genuine, and I couldn't react to things that weren't genuine. Because when I'm trying to figure out the truth of a case, and there really is no truth, I can't work. So they took little snippets of the pilot and created a sizzle reel, along with 60 Minutes tape and sold that."

## Episodes

| Season | Season episode | Series episode | Title | Airdate |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Defendant Arrested. | September 16, 1996 |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | A dispute ends in assault. | September 17, 1996 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Vandals; car repossession. | September 18, 1996 |
| 1 | 4 | 4 | Neighbor wrecks wall; policeman's civil complaint against a speeder. | September 19, 1996 |
| 1 | 5 | 5 | Engagement ring; dog attack. | September 20, 1996 |
| 1 | 6 | 6 | Lovers' dispute and unpaid loan. | September 23, 1996 |
| 1 | 7 | 7 | Spinster misused, custody case. | September 24, 1996 |
| 1 | 8 | 8 | Vandalism. child molester. | September 25, 1996 |
| 1 | 9 | 9 | Sex discrimination, damaged car. | September 26, 1996 |
| 1 | 10 | 10 | Diamond-ring dispute; roommates. | September 27, 1996 |
| 1 | 11 | 11 | Noisy old lady; dog bite. | September 30, 1996 |
| 1 | 12 | 12 | Deadbeat dad; unpaid loan. | October 1, 1996 |
| 1 | 13 | 13 | Difficult break-up; medical-bill suit. | October 2, 1996 |
| 1 | 14 | 14 | Lemon; real-estate transaction. | October 3, 1996 |
| 1 | 15 | 15 | Culture Clash | October 4, 1996 |
| 1 | 16 | 16 | Free-loading guests; dog kills rabbit. | October 7, 1996 |
| 1 | 17 | 17 | Unsettled loan agreement; daughter's tattoo | October 8, 1996 |
| 1 | 18 | 18 | A faulty toy. | October 9, 1996 |
| 1 | 19 | 19 | Disturbing the peace; dog bites boy. | October 10, 1996 |
| 1 | 20 | 20 | Guests debate the legalization of drugs. | October 11, 1996 |
| 1 | 21 | 21 | Single mother sues her lover; airplane-ticket suit. | October 14, 1996 |
| 1 | 22 | 22 | TV repairman; teen's phone bill. | October 15, 1996 |
| 1 | 23 | 23 | Computer-dating service; married man has girlfriend buy him a car | October 16, 1996 |
| 1 | 24 | 24 | Car trade turns violent; sick dogs. | October 17, 1996 |
| 1 | 25 | 25 | Noisy granny; plumber cons woman | October 18, 1996 |
| 1 | 26 | 26 | Dog fight; roommates split. | October 21, 1996 |
| 1 | 27 | 27 | Vehicle title; restaurant sued. | October 22, 1996 |
| 1 | 28 | 28 | Unpaid loans. | October 23, 1996 |
| 1 | 29 | 29 | Estate contested; vacation expenses. | October 24, 1996 |
| 1 | 30 | 30 | Animal cruelty (ft. Bea Arthur as a witness). | October 25, 1996 |
| 1 | 31 | 31 | A damaged motorcycle; woman sues former boss. | October 28, 1996 |
| 1 | 32 | 32 | A damaged truck; filmmakers sue music producer. | October 29, 1996 |
| 1 | 33 | 33 | Business deal goes bust; racial slurs are scratched into a car. | October 30, 1996 |
| 1 | 34 | 34 | Woman sues ex-husband; ruined wedding photos. | October 31, 1996 |
| 1 | 35 | 35 | Man sues mother-in-law; an unpaid loan. | November 1, 1996 |
| 1 | 36 | 36 | Landlord's sexual harassment. | November 4, 1996 |
| 1 | 37 | 37 | Rape case. | November 5, 1996 |
| 1 | 38 | 38 | Breast implants. | November 6, 1996 |
| 1 | 39 | 39 | Fender bender; actor's compensation. | November 7, 1996 |
| 1 | 40 | 40 | Brawl injuries. | November 8, 1996 |
| 1 | 41 | 41 | Custody case. | November 11, 1996 |
| 1 | 42 | 42 | Car loan tiff; vacation photos. | November 12, 1996 |
| 1 | 43 | 43 | Harassing former boyfriend; gambling debts. | November 13, 1996 |
| 1 | 44 | 44 | Engagement-ring dispute; toeless dog. | November 14, 1996 |
| 1 | 45 | 45 | Credit-card dispute; attempted kidnapping. | November 15, 1996 |
| 1 | 46 | 46 | Jailbird sues girlfriend; woman sues estranged son-in-law. | November 18, 1996 |
| 1 | 47 | 47 | Unpaid taxes; car loan. | November 19, 1996 |
| 1 | 48 | 48 | Coat-check liability; manager sues musician. | November 20, 1996 |
| 1 | 49 | 49 | Uninsured motorist; speeding motorist. | November 21, 1996 |
| 1 | 50 | 50 | Vandalism; stolen refrigerator. | November 22, 1996 |
| 1 | 51 | 51 | Child custody; former lovers sue each other. | November 25, 1996 |
| 1 | 52 | 52 | Polygamy. | November 26, 1996 |
| 1 | 53 | 53 | Assaulted tow-truck driver; dog-custody case. | November 27, 1996 |
| 1 | 54 | 54 | Engagement ring; biting dog. | November 28, 1996 |
| 1 | 55 | 55 | Break-in; unpaid loan | November 29, 1996 |
| 1 | 56 | 56 | Baby sitter sues for back wages. | December 2, 1996 |
| 1 | 57 | 57 | Sexual harassment. | December 3, 1996 |
| 1 | 58 | 58 | Dispute over diamond; battling roommates. | December 4, 1996 |
| 1 | 59 | 59 | Damaged property; broken contract. | December 5, 1996 |
| 1 | 60 | 60 | Broken contract; Divine Brown. | December 6, 1996 |
| 1 | 61 | 61 | Damaged car; lovers' loans. | December 9, 1996 |
| 1 | 62 | 62 | Heirloom jewelry; loan suit. | December 10, 1996 |
| 1 | 63 | 63 | Woman sues father; brother sues brother. | December 11, 1996 |
| 1 | 64 | 64 | Eviction; magician sued. | December 12, 1996 |
| 1 | 65 | 65 | Woman resists arrest after accident; abandoned, wrecked car. | December 13, 1996 |
| 1 | 66 | 66 | Cosmetic samples; car quibbles. | December 16, 1996 |
| 1 | 67 | 67 | Couple seeks custody of grandchildren. | December 17, 1996 |
| 1 | 68 | 68 | Loans for wedding expenses disputed. | December 18, 1996 |
| 1 | 69 | 69 | Couples' separation financial dispute; high-interest loan between brothers. | December 19, 1996 |
| 1 | 70 | 70 | Incompatible couple; gambling losses. | December 20, 1996 |
| 1 | 71 | 71 | Wrecked motorcycle; woman sues former employer. | December 23, 1996 |
| 1 | 72 | 72 | Paternity. | December 24, 1996 |
| 1 | 73 | 73 | Spinster exploited; custody case. | December 25, 1996 |
| 1 | 74 | 74 | Defendant arrested. | December 26, 1996 |
| 1 | 75 | 75 | Vandals; repossessed car. | December 27, 1996 |
| 1 | 76 | 76 | In-laws evict woman. | December 30, 1996 |
| 1 | 77 | 77 | Custody dispute; money dispute ends friendship. | December 31, 1996 |
| 1 | 78 | 78 | Child support; teen's living expenses. | January 1, 1997 |
| 1 | 79 | 79 | Joy-riding teens. | January 2, 1997 |
| 1 | 80 | 80 | Hair salon sued; doll-maker. | January 3, 1997 |
| 1 | 81 | 81 | Money squabble conceals custody case. | January 6, 1997 |
| 1 | 82 | 82 | Baby sitters' liability. | January 7, 1997 |
| 1 | 83 | 83 | Vengeful former spouses. | January 8, 1997 |
| 1 | 84 | 84 | Woman sues her daughter; tire loan. | January 9, 1997 |
| 1 | 85 | 85 | BMW stalls; roommates. | January 10, 1997 |
| 1 | 86 | 86 | Fist fight. | January 13, 1997 |
| 1 | 87 | 87 | Shoplifter sues police captain. | January 14, 1997 |
| 1 | 88 | 88 | Bounced check. | January 15, 1997 |
| 1 | 89 | 89 | Unregistered vehicle; vandals. | January 16, 1997 |
| 1 | 90 | 90 | Courtship gifts; music promoter sued. | January 17, 1997 |
| 1 | 91 | 91 | Tenant sued; estranged couple's money. | January 20, 1997 |
| 1 | 92 | 92 | Child support; assault allegations. | January 21, 1997 |
| 1 | 93 | 93 | Unpaid legal fees; forged check. | January 22, 1997 |
| 1 | 94 | 94 | Man sues woman over gifts. | January 23, 1997 |
| 1 | 95 | 95 | Ex-husband sued; shipping service sued. | January 24, 1997 |
| 1 | 96 | 96 | Smashed vehicle. | January 27, 1997 |
| 1 | 97 | 97 | Stolen rent. | January 28, 1997 |
| 1 | 98 | 98 | Couch sold; eviction leads to theft. | January 29, 1997 |
| 1 | 99 | 99 | Roommates. | January 30, 1997 |
| 1 | 100 | 100 | Hasty departure. | January 31, 1997 |
| 1 | 101 | 101 | Woman attacked. | February 3, 1997 |
| 1 | 102 | 102 | Loan disputes. | February 4, 1997 |
| 1 | 103 | 103 | Room-rent deposit. | February 5, 1997 |
| 1 | 104 | 104 | Vandalized house. | February 6, 1997 |
| 1 | 105 | 105 | Crashed car; abusive club patron. | February 7, 1997 |
| 1 | 106 | 106 | Ring traded for car. | February 10, 1997 |
| 1 | 107 | 107 | Mother sues daughter. | February 11, 1997 |
| 1 | 108 | 108 | Domestic-partners suit. | February 12, 1997 |
| 1 | 109 | 109 | John Byner sues a theater; joint property. | February 13, 1997 |
| 1 | 110 | 110 | Dental braces. | February 14, 1997 |
| 1 | 111 | 111 | Litigious roommate; broken nose. | February 17, 1997 |
| 1 | 112 | 112 | Abandoned lizards; estate law. | February 18, 1997 |
| 1 | 113 | 113 | Friendship goes to the dogs. | February 19, 1997 |
| 1 | 114 | 114 | Damaged wedding dress; nightclub owner. | February 20, 1997 |
| 1 | 115 | 115 | Stolen money. | February 21, 1997 |
| 1 | 116 | 116 | Truck explosion; employer sued. | February 24, 1997 |
| 1 | 117 | 117 | Man vandalizes woman's car. | February 25, 1997 |
| 1 | 118 | 118 | Tools; borrowed watch. | February 26, 1997 |
| 1 | 119 | 119 | Noisy neighbors. | February 27, 1997 |
| 1 | 120 | 120 | Rent dispute; used car. | February 28, 1997 |
| 1 | 121 | 121 | Divorced couple's computer. | March 3, 1997 |
| 1 | 122 | 122 | Canceled wedding. | March 4, 1997 |
| 1 | 123 | 123 | Basketball fans; borrowed money. | March 5, 1997 |
| 1 | 124 | 124 | “Jenny Jones” case. | March 6, 1997 |
| 1 | 125 | 125 | Loaned money. | March 7, 1997 |
| 1 | 126 | 126 | Divorced mail-order bride. | March 10, 1997 |
| 1 | 127 | 127 | Loaned stereo; repossessed minivan. | March 11, 1997 |
| 1 | 128 | 128 | Joey Buttafuoco. | March 12, 1997 |
| 1 | 129 | 129 | Handyman. | March 13, 1997 |
| 1 | 130 | 130 | Cap sellers. | March 14, 1997 |
| 1 | 131 | 131 | Couple's credit cards; unpaid phone bills. | March 18, 1997 |
| 1 | 132 | 132 | Bicycle accident. | March 19, 1997 |
| 1 | 133 | 133 | Couple splits up; unpaid rent. | March 20, 1997 |
| 1 | 134 | 134 | Deadly car wreck; fired employee. | March 21, 1997 |
| 1 | 135 | 135 | Intrusive landlord; dating service. | March 25, 1997 |
| 1 | 136 | 136 | Cactus custody; separated pair. | March 26, 1997 |
| 1 | 137 | 137 | Giver/taker; heirloom silver. | March 27, 1997 |
| 1 | 138 | 138 | Freeloader son; mother's grief. | March 28, 1997 |
| 1 | 139 | 139 | Birthday car. | March 31, 1997 |
| 1 | 140 | 140 | Return of tools; money dispute. | April 1, 1997 |
| 1 | 141 | 141 | Dancing horse business. | April 2, 1997 |
| 1 | 142 | 142 | Restaurant patron; band's debts. | April 3, 1997 |
| 1 | 143 | 143 | Character in question; bus business. | April 4, 1997 |
| 1 | 144 | 144 | Dog prints; con-man lover. | April 7, 1997 |
| 1 | 145 | 145 | Pilfering lover. | April 22, 1997 |
| 1 | 146 | 146 | Discrimination; litigious lovers. | April 24, 1997 |
| 1 | 147 | 147 | Memorabilia; unpaid loan. | April 28, 1997 |
| 1 | 148 | 148 | Philanderer sued. | April 29, 1997 |
| 1 | 149 | 149 | Chaperon's expenses; jet-ski loan. | April 30, 1997 |
| 1 | 150 | 150 | Roommates' dispute; babysitter. | May 2, 1997 |
| 1 | 151 | 151 | Failed romance ends apartment-sharing. | May 5, 1997 |
| 1 | 152 | 152 | Teen altercation. | May 6, 1997 |
| 1 | 153 | 153 | Bad relationship; dead ostrich. | May 8, 1997 |
| 1 | 154 | 154 | Falsely accused; drunken-driving arrest. | May 9, 1997 |
| 1 | 155 | 155 | Hotel bill; mother sues child. | May 12, 1997 |
| 1 | 156 | 156 | Limousine no-show. | May 14, 1997 |
| 1 | 157 | 157 | Damaged car; attacking pets. | May 15, 1997 |
| 1 | 158 | 158 | Squabble; bad dye job. | May 16, 1997 |
| 1 | 159 | 159 | Women fight over a man. | May 19, 1997 |
| 1 | 160 | 160 | Ex-lover sued; football injury. | May 21, 1997 |
| 1 | 161 | 161 | Loaned car; bail retribution. | May 22, 1997 |
| 1 | 162 | 162 | Altercation; blackjack brawl. | May 23, 1997 |
| 1 | 163 | 163 | Father sues son; divorced couple's debt. | May 26, 1997 |
| 1 | 164 | 164 | Neutered dog; custody case. | May 27, 1997 |
| 1 | 165 | 165 | Polygamy debate. | May 28, 1997 |
| 1 | 166 | 166 | Dented car hood; wigmaker. | May 29, 1997 |
| 1 | 167 | 167 | Invasion of privacy. | May 30, 1997 |
| 1 | 168 | 168 | Root canal; wedding dress. | June 2, 1997 |
| 1 | 169 | 169 | Engagement ring. | June 3, 1997 |
| 1 | 170 | 170 | Computer sale. | June 4, 1997 |
| 1 | 171 | 171 | Unpaid loans; dog prints in concrete. | June 5, 1997 |
| 1 | 172 | 172 | Unpaid rent; account withdrawal. | June 6, 1997 |
| 1 | 173 | 173 | Restaurant patron bounced; a band's debts. | June 9, 1997 |
| 1 | 174 | 174 | Drunken brawl. | June 10, 1997 |
| 1 | 175 | 175 | Divorce. | June 11, 1997 |
| 1 | 176 | 176 | Chaperon's expenses; jet skis. | June 12, 1997 |
| 1 | 177 | 177 | Cosmetic samples; car dispute. | June 13, 1997 |
| 1 | 178 | 178 | Same-sex domestic partners. | June 16, 1997 |
| 1 | 179 | 179 | Unpaid loans. | June 17, 1997 |
| 1 | 180 | 180 | Unruly teens. | June 18, 1997 |
| 1 | 181 | 181 | Traffic tickets; broken guitars. | June 19, 1997 |
| 1 | 182 | 182 | Child support. | June 20, 1997 |
| 1 | 183 | 183 | Unpaid loan. | June 23, 1997 |
| 1 | 184 | 184 | Missing memorabilia; unpaid loan. | June 24, 1997 |
| 1 | 185 | 185 | Divorce settlement. | June 25, 1997 |
| 1 | 186 | 186 | Lizard sale; diamond ring. | June 26, 1997 |
| 1 | 187 | 187 | Unpaid debts. | June 27, 1997 |
| 1 | 188 | 188 | Wedding coordinator. | June 30, 1997 |
| 1 | 189 | 189 | Car-ownership case. | July 10, 1997 |
| 1 | 190 | 190 | Contested bills. | July 11, 1997 |
| 1 | 191 | 191 | Lovers' suit. | July 14, 1997 |
| 1 | 192 | 192 | Limo company sued. | July 15, 1997 |
| 1 | 193 | 193 | Friendships end in litigation. | July 16, 1997 |
| 1 | 194 | 194 | Job-injury suit; car sale. | July 17, 1997 |
| 1 | 195 | 195 | Lesbian breakup. | July 18, 1997 |
| 1 | 196 | 196 | Abusive boyfriend. | July 28, 1997 |
| 1 | 197 | 197 | Mother-in-law sued for harassment; sailors and money. | July 29, 1997 |
| 1 | 198 | 198 | Broken engagement. | July 30, 1997 |
| 1 | 199 | 199 | Ex-roommate sued. | July 31, 1997 |
| 1 | 200 | 200 | Drunken carousing; wigmaker. | August 1, 1997 |
| 1 | 201 | 201 | Spayed Labrador; unpaid bills. | August 4, 1997 |
| 1 | 202 | 202 | Storage; porno-film producer. | August 5, 1997 |
| 1 | 203 | 203 | Vehicle repossession; stamp collection thrown away. | August 6, 1997 |
| 1 | 204 | 204 | Cameraman hit by car. | August 7, 1997 |
| 1 | 205 | 205 | Unpaid babysitter; incompatible roommates. | August 8, 1997 |
| 1 | 206 | 206 | Child custody. | August 11, 1997 |
| 1 | 207 | 207 | Rent dispute. | August 14, 1997 |
| 1 | 208 | 208 | Old, unpaid loan; damaged car. | August 18, 1997 |
| 1 | 209 | 209 | Man sues mail-order bride. | August 19, 1997 |
| 1 | 210 | 210 | Shoplifting accusations; sour wine tasting. | August 20, 1997 |
| 1 | 211 | 211 | Loaned-car tragedy; telemarketer. | August 21, 1997 |
| 1 | 212 | 212 | Bar-room brawl. | August 22, 1997 |
| 1 | 213 | 213 | Unpaid tattoo artist; unpaid saleswoman. | August 26, 1997 |
| 1 | 214 | 214 | Miscarriage; ex-lovers. | August 27, 1997 |
| 1 | 215 | 215 | Gunfight. | August 29, 1997 |
| 1 | 216 | 216 | Sexual-harassment suit. | September 1, 1997 |
| 1 | 217 | 217 | Truck mishap; employer sued. | September 2, 1997 |
| 1 | 218 | 218 | Yoga teacher. | September 3, 1997 |
| 1 | 219 | 219 | Parents sue daughter. | September 4, 1997 |
| 1 | 220 | 220 | BMW dispute; former lovers and money. | September 5, 1997 |