  judge judy is an american arbitration-based reality court show presided over by retired manhattan family court judge judith sheindlin. the show features sheindlin adjudicating real-life small claim disputes within a simulated courtroom set. all parties involved must sign contracts agreeing to arbitration under sheindlin. the series is in first-run syndication and distributed by cbs television distribution.{{cite web|author=scott koondel |url=http://www.cbstvd.com/bio_koondel.aspx |title=cbs television distribution â management â scott 
1990s_American_television_series 1996_American_television_series_debuts 2000s_American_television_series 2010s_American_television_series American_reality_television_series Arbitration_courts_and_tribunals Court_shows English-language_television_programming First-run_syndicated_television_programs_in_the_United_States Television_series_by_CBS_Paramount_Television