Judge Judy was an American arbitration-based reality court show starring former Manhattan Family Court Judge Judith Sheindlin, who adjudicated real small-claims disputes in a simulated courtroom where all parties signed contracts agreeing to her binding ruling. The series premiered on September 16, 1996, and concluded on July 23, 2021, after 25 seasons, with the final filmed case airing on June 8, 2021. It was the highest-rated court show for its entire run, frequently topping daytime and syndication ratings, and it revived the courtroom genre, winning three Emmy Awards and earning Sheindlin a Guinness World Record for longest-serving television arbitrator. The show's origin traces back to a 1993 60 Minutes segment on Sheindlin, which led to her bestselling book Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining and eventually a pitch from talent scouts, despite an earlier rejection from The People's Court producers. The show spawned two spin-offs: Judy Justice (starring Sheindlin) and Tribunal Justice (featuring bailiff Byrd), both streamed on Amazon Freevee. Even in reruns, the show continues to draw notably high ratings, remaining in syndication via CBS Media Ventures, with early seasons available on Pluto TV and an active YouTube channel.