Judge Judy vs. Judy Justice: What’s Changed and What’s the Same in the Judge’s Courtroom

Judge Judy, the long-running courtroom reality show, came to an end after 25 seasons in 2021. The decision to end the show was not due to declining ratings or popularity, but rather a strategic move by CBS to retain the rights to the show’s vast library of episodes for syndication and streaming platforms.

Judge Judy Sheindlin, the show’s no-nonsense star, was not ready to retire from the bench. She quickly moved on to create a new show called “Judy Justice,” which premiered in 2021 on IMDb TV (now Amazon Freevee). The move to streaming allowed Sheindlin more creative control and flexibility in the show’s format.

“Judy Justice” maintains the essence of the original show, with Sheindlin presiding over small claims cases and delivering her signature wit and wisdom. However, the new show features a refreshed set, a new bailiff (Kevin Rasco), and a law clerk (Sarah Rose) who provides legal insights.

The transition from broadcast to streaming has been successful, with “Judy Justice” garnering a large audience and positive reviews. The show continues to showcase Sheindlin’s sharp legal mind and no-nonsense approach, proving that her brand of justice is still in high demand. Both shows are a must watch but here are all the similarities and differences between the two shows.

Similarities:

• Both shows are arbitration-based reality court shows presided over by former Manhattan Family Court Judge Judith Sheindlin.
• Both shows feature Sheindlin adjudicating real-life small-claims disputes within a simulated courtroom set.
• Both shows have the same basic format, with Sheindlin listening to the cases, asking questions, and then issuing her rulings.
• Both shows are produced by Big Ticket Television.

Differences:

• Judy Justice is a streaming show on Amazon Freevee, while Judge Judy was a broadcast show on CBS
• Judy Justice has a shorter runtime than Judge Judy (22 minutes vs. 30 minutes).
• Judy Justice has a different bailiff, Kevin Rasco, than Judge Judy, who had Petri Hawkins-Byrd.
• Judy Justice has a more diverse cast of litigants than Judge Judy.
• The set design of Judy Justice is more modern and sleek, with a different wood color, marble columns, and monitors that are built into the set.
• The runtime of Judy Justice is shorter than Judge Judy, which allows for more cases to be heard in a single episode.
• The bailiff in Judy Justice is Kevin Rasco, who is a former police officer and security guard. He is known for his sense of humor and his ability to defuse tense situations.