Judge Wapner (Johnsonverse)

Judge Wapner is an American reality court show presided by Joseph Wapner. Like his previous show, The People's Court, this show saw Wapner hear real-life small-claims cases in a simulated courtroom set, with each case bookended by introductions and interviews by court reporter Doug Llewelyn.

When The People's Court was airing its final episodes in 1993, film director Timothy Hill got together with Wapner to create a spiritual successor series, bringing him, bailiff Rusty Burrell, Llewelyn, and announcer Jack Harrell into the fold, alongside much of the same staff.

First airing in 1993, the series was critically acclaimed, winning several awards. After Wapner's death on February 26, 2017, production on Judge Wapner ceased, and his remaining cases continued to air posthumously until October 20 of that year.

Origins
In 1993, the producers for The People's Court, Ralph Edwards and Stu Billett, chose not to renew Wapner's contract after a twelve-season run, something that Wapner himself had not heard about until his brother-in-law told him he read it in the San Francisco Chronicle. The series was canceled after ratings had dropped to an all-time low. Hearing about this, film director Timothy Hill collaborated with the series' court reporter, Doug Llewelyn, to create a successor for the 1993-94 television season, bringing in much of the same staff.