Joseph Wapner - The People's Court Television Series

The People's Court Television Series

Main article: The People's Court

On The People's Court, Wapner conducted a binding arbitration which was set up to resemble a small claims court by pitting parties, without lawyers, against each other. The legacy of the show's high popularity has led to myriad other similar syndicated courtroom shows, such as Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown among others. After a 4 year hiatus, beginning in 1993, The People's Court returned to the air in 1997, though without Wapner, and still runs today.

After 12 seasons on The People's Court, it was announced that Wapner was not invited back to the court show in 1993, that producers were looking for something different. The producers of The People's Court did not notify Wapner of this decision however; rather, he learnt of the decision from his brother, who read it in the San Francisco Chronicle. Wapner has expressed holding great resentment and bitterness at the court show's producers for finding out this way, and additional resentment over being let go when, according to him, the show was doing well (it's worth noting, however, that although the show had a good run ratings-wise, the ratings had dropped to an all-time low at around the time The People's Court was cancelled). Wapner has stated that he was told years later that the show didn't want to hurt his feelings; however, he states that this is exactly what the show did. Wapner has also stated that he wasn't notified when the producers decided to revamp the series. He has stated he holds no opinions on the People's Court judges who succeeded him as he never watches the program. He did, however, note that the following two judges who succeeded him (Ed Koch & Jerry Sheindlin) only lasted 2 seasons whereas he lasted 12 seasons. He also emphasized that judges need to be respectful of litigants.

On November 12, 2009, Wapner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, succeeding Judith Sheindlin of the television court show, Judge Judy, who earned the honor in 2006. Wapner and Sheindlin are the only two television jurists who have received the honor.

On November 13, 2009, in honor of his 90th birthday on November 15, Wapner made a one-time-only return to the court show, acting as a guest judge, presiding over a case on the current version of The People's Court.

Wapner is critical of Judith Sheindlin's style on Judge Judy, once remarking:

"She is not portraying a judge as I view a judge should act. She’s discourteous, and she's abrasive. She's not slightly insulting -- she’s insulting in capital letters!"

Sheindlin responded:

"I refuse to engage in similar mud slinging. I don't know where or by whom Judge Wapner was raised. But my parents taught me when you don't have something nice to say about someone, say nothing. Clearly, Judge Wapner was absent on the day that lesson was taught."

Wapner replied:

"She is a disgrace to the profession. She does things I don't think a judge should do. She tells people to shut up. She's rude. She's arrogant. She demeans people. If she does this on purpose, then that's even worse. Judges need to observe certain standards of conduct. She just doesn't do it and I resent that. The public is apt to gain the impression that this is how actual judges conduct themselves. It says 'judge' on the nameplate on the bench and she's wearing a robe."

Since then, Sheindlin has stated:

"As a young person, when I had watched The People's Court . . . I said you know what, I could do that. And at least as well because while Joe Wapner is a very good judge, didn't have much of a sense of humor. And I always knew from a very practical perspective that you have to marry those two things in order to be successful in entertainment."