For most of us, Judge Judy is a constant source of entertainment and daily inspiration. Who doesn’t want to be reminded that if you owe the other person money and they can prove they lent it to you, they have a right to get it back? Judge Judy is the original queen of reality TV justice.
But for Randy Douthit, Judy Sheindlin’s longtime Executive Producer and current CEO of her new show on IMDb, Judy Justice, and Judge Judy has been more than just a TV show—it’s an opportunity to learn every day. Interacting with the best legal minds on the planet has taught Randy many important lessons.
The lessons include:
- It takes much more than money to make a deal. You can’t just write the check after an adversarial dispute is settled. Randy Douthit says winning cases is a financial accomplishment, but it’s only part of the deal. It takes lawyers who are passionate and committed to their clients and their cases. Attorneys who act professionally and know how to work with opposing counsel will serve their clients best.
- No matter how good your lawyer is, timing is everything. Sometimes even the most experienced lawyer can have an off day in court. He says one of the most common mistakes lawyers make is appearing too soon. If a lawyer doesn’t show up in time, the opposing attorney will have every reason to believe there’s something wrong with their case. Instead, Douthit says you should plan for delays ahead of time and arrive at your hearing on time.
- Trust is everything in business, and it’s the same way in litigation. Randy Douthit says you should never hesitate to trust the experience and judgment of your lawyer. But he cautions that it’s also important not to be too trusting. If a judge isn’t going to listen to your lawyer, he says it’s best to cut bait rather than waste time or money on an issue that isn’t being argued in court.
- It’s more than just a business transaction. Randy says that for an on-air TV courtroom, the lawyers are the show’s stars. When it comes to real courtrooms, the judges are in charge. Judges set the rules of legal procedure, and lawyers have to adhere to them and respond to every objection and question asked by opposing counsel.
Judges are in charge, and everything always has to go through them. Randy Douthit says that as long as he works within the courtroom parameters, he can bring Judge Judy and her TV show charms to every courtroom session.