The verdict is in: Syndicated court books Judge Mathis and The People’s Court will both end their runs at the end of this season, Variety has confirmed. Judge Mathis will conclude after 24 seasons, while this latest installment of The People’s Court concludes after its 26th season. Season 24 or Season 26.
Both shows are produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. According to insiders, the decision was made due to the declining nature of the daytime syndication landscape. As local TV stations shrink their syndication dollars and the advertising market for daytime syndication shrinks, first-run syndication has become a more difficult landscape. At the same time, broadcasting groups are expanding their local news programs, also to save money.
Judge Mathis is also from AND Syndicated Productions, while The People’s Court is a Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett production.
“Judge Mathis” won the 2018 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program and the 2004 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series. Judge Greg Mathis, a former Michigan 36th Circuit Court judge, is the longest-serving black male television host and the second-longest serving judge in courtroom television history, behind “Judge Judy” star Judith Sheindlin.
“Judge Mathis” was also the second longest-running court show in continued production with the same host, behind “Judge Judy,” which ran for 25 seasons. Throughout the show’s history, Judge Mathis presided over 13,000 cases on his show.
As for The People’s Court, the show won four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2021.
When all of its iterations are included, The People’s Court is the longest-running traditional court show and the second-longest-running court show overall, with a total of 39 seasons as of television year 2022-23 (behind Divorce Court by one season).
Judge Marilyn Milian has presided over the “People’s Court” since 2001, making her the longest-serving moderator of the series (22 years). She was also the first Latina judge to host a nationally syndicated court show on television.
The current revival of The People’s Court premiered in 1997 with Ed Koch as the judge, followed by Jerry Sheindlin. The original series ran from 1981 to 1993 with judge Joseph Wapner.
Milian was appointed to Miami Circuit Court in 1999. Reporter and TMZ executive Harvey Levin has served as series host and legal reporter, while Douglas McIntosh is a court clerk. Original The People’s Court contributor Doug Llewelyn also returned to interview litigants after a decision was reached.
