''Judge Maria Lopez'' is an American
arbitration-based reality court show, presided over by
Maria Lopez
Maria Lopez (born September 12, 1953) is a Cuban-American former judge and a former television jurist on the syndicated court show, ''Judge Maria Lopez''.
Judge Lopez made legal history as the first Latina appointed to the bench in Massachusetts w ...
. On the show, guests themselves presented and argued
small claims
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and go by different names in different jurisdictions. For example, it may b ...
civil action
-
A lawsuit is a proceeding by a party or parties against another in the civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. The term "lawsuit" is used in reference to a civil actio ...
s before the judge. The half-hour series,
produced and distributed by
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production and distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, it is a division of Sony Entertainment's unit Sony Pictures Entertainm ...
, debuted in the United States and Canada on September 11, 2006. The show was filmed at the Metropolis Studios in New York City. Prior to joining the series, Lopez was a judge in the
Massachusetts Superior Court
The Massachusetts Superior Court (also known as the Superior Court Department of the Trial Court) is a trial court department in Massachusetts.
The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $50,000, and in matters where equita ...
.
International viewing
''Judge Maria Lopez'' debuted in the same week as another syndicated courtroom show featuring a Latina judge, ''
Cristina's Court
Cristina Perez (born October 27, 1964) is an American actress, television personality, writer and TV judge.
Biography
She was born in New York City, raised in California to parents of Colombian descent, received two BAs at UCLA and her JD ...
''. In January 2007, SPT renewed the series for a second season despite being the lowest rated court show of the 2006–07 season, averaging a 0.9 rating. However, in February 2008 reports indicated that due to two seasons of low ratings,
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production and distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, it is a division of Sony Entertainment's unit Sony Pictures Entertainm ...
was cancelling the series and the show ended on May 23, 2008, along with
Judge Hatchett
''Judge Hatchett'' is an American arbitration-based reality court show, produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. The series premiered on September 4, 2000 and ran for eight seasons until its cancellation on May 23, 2008. It was Sony ...
.
See also
* ''
Judge Hatchett
''Judge Hatchett'' is an American arbitration-based reality court show, produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. The series premiered on September 4, 2000 and ran for eight seasons until its cancellation on May 23, 2008. It was Sony ...
''
References
First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
Television series by Sony Pictures Television
2006 American television series debuts
2008 American television series endings
2000s American legal television series
Court shows
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