Judge Judy Exposed

A letter from a Judge Judy staffer has leaked, uncovering the multiple levels of fakery the courtroom reality show is built upon.

The letter, signed by producer Julie Turner, reveals how the program employs “field researchers” who review and suggest cases pending in small claims court that they think would make for explosive TV fare.

Potential participants are also baited in the letter with a number of sweeteners: defendants, for example, are told that the show guarantees “to pay [the] plaintiff the full amount that was awarded against you,” and “you pay nothing.”

Even better for the litigants, according to the letter, is that “no civil judgement will be entered against you if you lose the case,” as appearing before the cameras acts as arbitration as opposed to litigation.

Tempting to both plaintiffs and defendants is an all-expenses trip to Los Angeles for them (and any witnesses), along with an “appearance fee” for putting their case before the cameras.

The TV judge, whose real name is Judith Sheindlin, came under fire last month from former participant David Kohalisky, a Clearwater Fla. nativewho was seething about how he felt the show portrayed him.

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“Being on the show ruined my life,” Kohalisky told RadarOnline.com exclusively, claiming that the show’s producers prodded him to come out of the closet on national TV, which led to complications when he returned to Florida.

“I work with children with disabilities and after the show aired I was told that a ‘f** should not be working’ with these kids,” Kohalisky told Radar. “People that normally talk to me now turn their heads when they see me and pretend that I don’t exist.”

Kohalisky also claimed that producers tried to get him to sue for more, lie about one of his witnesses and broadcast a mistruth about being evicted from his home.

"Judge Judy presents a horrible image of what judges are supposed to do. Here’s a hot tip: Judges don’t belittle their litigants, don’t apply the law off the top of the heads, don’t encourage the litigants to act out, don’t mouth off about their prejudices and don’t controlthe evidence. This is reality television at its very worst. Judy’s commercial success is entirely undeserved."

— Michael Asimow