About
"When The People's Court came along, I had an opportunity to really teach people about law. It was very important to me."
In his nearly two-hour interview, Joseph A. Wapner (1919-2017) discusses his twelve-year tenure as the presiding judge on the landmark syndicated series The People's Court. He talks about the start of the series, some memorable cases, and reaction to the show's success. He offers his opinion on the role of a judge and the part that The People's Court had in educating the public about the law. Wapner also talks about his career as a lawyer and later as a judge for the Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Court. He describes his later courtroom series Animal Court (for the Animal Planet cable network) as well as other television appearances he made through the years (including a memorable case he judged between David Letterman and Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson). Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on July 11, 2005 in Century City, CA.
Highlights
Joseph Wapner on Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett approaching him about doing a television show (The People's Court)
Joseph Wapner on what makes a good judge
Joseph Wapner on what people learned from The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on his feelings on cameras in courtrooms
Joseph Wapner on The People's Court being featured in the film "Rain Man"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on growing up during the Great Depression; on attending USC law school
On serving in World War II; on practicing law with his father and then starting his own practice; on becoming a judge
On hearing small claims, arraignments, and traffic court; on serving in the Superior court; on jurors and memorable cases
On what makes a good judge; on private judging and retiring from Superior court
On Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett approaching him about doing a television show (The People's Court); on shooting the pilot for the show
Chapter 2
On the ethical and legal considerations behind the The People's Court; on how the show was filmed and the appeal of being on the program
On memorable cases on The People's Court; on delivering his decisions
On his process for making his decisions on The People's Court; on awarding money; on cases involving pets or bad services
On a typical work week on The People's Court; on camera placement
On spontaneous moments on The People's Court; on becoming famous from being on the program
Chapter 3
On the set of The People's Court; on the main function of a judge; on children appearing on the program
On the legacy of The People's Court; on producers not telling him that he would not be returning to the program
On his feelings on cameras in courtrooms; on presiding over Animal Planet; on meeting O.J. Simpson
On trying a case between David Letterman on Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
On other television appearances; on returning for the 3000th episode of The People's Court; on his proudest achievement; on his early thoughts on television and never thinking he'd be on it
Chapter 4
On timing on The People's Court; on his demeanor on the program
On The People's Court being featured in the film "Rain Man"
On advice to aspiring TV judges; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Beverly Hillbillies, The
Joseph Wapner on appearing on Beverly Hillbillies
Judge Wapner's Animal Court
Joseph Wapner on cases with pets on The People's Court and being the judge on Animal Court
Joseph Wapner on presiding over Animal Court
Joseph Wapner on the types of animals on Animal Court
Joseph Wapner on the audience of Animal Court
Malcolm & Eddie
Joseph Wapner on appearing on Malcolm & Eddie
Muppet Show, The
Joseph Wapner on appearing on The Muppet Show
People's Court, The
Joseph Wapner on Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett approaching him about doing a television show (The People's Court)
Joseph Wapner on the networks wanting an actor to play the judge on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on shooting the pilot for The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on the ethical and legal considerations behind the The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on how The People's Court was originally described to him and how the show was filmed
Joseph Wapner on the appeal of being on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on memorable cases on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on not being concerned with the music and drama of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on delivering his decisions on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on his process for making his decisions on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on awarding money on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on cases with pets on The People's Court and being the judge on Animal Court
Joseph Wapner on bad services that were judged on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on a typical work week on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on shooting The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on spontaneous moments on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on the studio audience on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on wanting to educate people on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on cases involving contracts on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on what people say to him when they recognize him from The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on becoming famous from being on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on his persona and the popularity of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on the main function of a judge and of The People's Court: to get at the truth
Joseph Wapner on the set of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on staying impartial on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on suing based on principle on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on his experiences with children on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on the legacy of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on what people learned from The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on why The People's Court ended and how the producers never told him he would no longer preside over the program
Joseph Wapner on the international reach of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on Ed Koch taking over The People's Court and television judges after him
Joseph Wapner on returning for the 3000th episode of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on the catchphrase on The People's Court - "Don't take the law into your own hands"
Joseph Wapner on timing and editing on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on interacting with litigants on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on the reactions of lawyers and judges on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on his demeanor on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on The People's Court being featured in the film "Rain Man"
Saturday Night Live
Joseph Wapner on being asked to host Saturday Night Live
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Joseph Wapner on trying a case between David Letterman on Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Topics
Advice
Joseph Wapner on advice to aspiring TV judges
Characters & Catchphrases
Joseph Wapner on the catchphrase on The People's Court - "Don't take the law into your own hands"
Fame and Celebrity
Joseph Wapner on becoming famous from being on The People's Court
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Joseph Wapner on learning of President Roosevelt's death during World War II
Historic Events and Social Change
Joseph Wapner on learning of President Roosevelt's death during World War II
Pop Culture
Joseph Wapner on the catchphrase on The People's Court - "Don't take the law into your own hands"
Television and the Presidency
Joseph Wapner on learning of President Roosevelt's death during World War II
Television Industry
Joseph Wapner on becoming famous from being on The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on advice to aspiring TV judges
War
Joseph Wapner on learning of President Roosevelt's death during World War II
World War II
Joseph Wapner on learning of President Roosevelt's death during World War II
Professions
Hosts
Joseph Wapner on advice to aspiring TV judges
Television Judge
Joseph Wapner on advice to aspiring TV judges
Genres
Reality TV
Joseph Wapner on Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett approaching him about doing a television show (The People's Court); on shooting the pilot for the show
Joseph Wapner on shooting The People's Court and becoming recognizable to the public
Joseph Wapner on the set of The People's Court; on the main function of a judge; on the legacy of the program
Joseph Wapner on the timing on The People's Court; on the program being featured in the film "Rain Man"
Service Shows
Joseph Wapner on the future of courtroom TV
People
Stu Billett
Joseph Wapner on Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett approaching him about doing a television show (The People's Court)
Ralph Edwards
Joseph Wapner on Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett approaching him about doing a television show (The People's Court)
Dustin Hoffman
Joseph Wapner on The People's Court being featured in the film "Rain Man"
David Letterman
Joseph Wapner on trying a case between David Letterman on Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Harvey Levin
Joseph Wapner on Harvey Levin's involvement with The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on returning for the 3000th episode of The People's Court
Doug Llewelyn
Joseph Wapner on the interviews with Doug Llewelyn at the end of The People's Court
Joseph Wapner on how Doug Llewelyn got involved with the The People's Court
O. J. Simpson
Joseph Wapner on his run-in with O.J. Simpson
Andrew Solt
Joseph Wapner on presiding over Animal Court
Lana Turner
Joseph Wapner on meeting Lana Turner when they were in high school