''Judge Maria Lopez'' is an American arbitration-based reality court show, presided over by Maria Lopez. On the show, guests themselves presented and argued small claims

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 act ...

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 Entertainme ...

, 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 equit ...

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,

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 ...

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 {{US-reality-tv-stub

International viewing

See also

References