Judge Judy marks decade of tough judicial love

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Judge as tyrant
Some uncommon voices, however, have been raised against her. Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz declaimed her for presenting the image of a judge as tyrant. A New York Times column recently accused Sheindlin of using the law as a bludgeon against the underclass: "...the lower a party's apparent status, the harsher Judge Judy is free to be."

Sheindlin once coyly parried Dershowitz, in print, by joking that she should have gone to the prom with him. Randy Douthit, the show's executive producer and director, takes on the allegation of class warfare.

"I think she's an equal opportunity abuser," Douthit said of Sheindlin.

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Because the show draws from small-claims courts in which judgments generally are limited to no more than $5,000, cases tend to involve the less affluent. But the show aims to be as "upscale as possible," Douthit said, avoiding Jerry Springeresque elements.

As "Judge Judy" faces new competition, including court shows vying for Hispanic viewers, Koerner predicts that its ratings and enviable time slots, often preceding local afternoon newscasts, are secure. News is profitable for TV stations and they demand a reliable performer as lead-in.

"Her fans are her fans. Even if they do want to see any of these new shows, they're not going to leave her show," Koerner said.

But will Sheindlin leave them? Her unexpected second career has given her "a wonderful 10 years" and she's contracted for four more, through the 2009-10 season. Beyond that, she's unsure.

"The truth is, you're really supposed to know when to say goodbye in any job you're in. I hope that I'll know."

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