Is Judge Judy A Real Judge?

Have you ever asked yourself “is Judge Judy a real judge?” Chances are you have seen an episode of Judge Judy on TV, starting with the unforgettable “All rise for the honorable Judge Judy!” Her role as it appears on TV is a small claims court judge that happens to be televising her proceedings. So this brings us to the question, “is Judge Judy a real judge?” Although Judge Judy has served as a real judge in a New York court, her television show is actually arbitration. Arbitration can be defined as two parties coming to a legal expert mediator, and signing on an agreement that states what arbitrator decides on the matter is final. This kind of resolution is only used for small legal matters like domestic disputes and small sums of money under $5,000. Another difference from real court to TV court is that most of the time the defendants and plaintiffs don’t actually have to pay anything to the other party. The television show producers would pay if Judge Judy ruled in the plaintiff’s favor, not the defendant. If she ruled in the defendant’s favor, both parties still get an appearance payment, as well as free travel and board. So when asking, “is Judge Judy a real judge?” the answer could be yes since she has served as a real judge, but her TV show is not a real courtroom as her role in the show is an arbitrator, not a judge. The last factor when considering, “is Judge Judy a real judge?” is whether or not her decisions can be overruled. The answer to that is simple, yes. Although it is common practice to not appeal or overturn an arbitrator’s decision, if the case falls outside of arbitration jurisdiction then it can be considered invalid. An example of this would be when Judge Jeffrey, a Brooklyn court judge, ruled that a television judge such as Judge Judy does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case that involved child custody and child support payments. When everything is accumulated the answer to, “is Judge Judy a real judge?” is no, she is not a real judge, and her TV show is not a real courtroom. 

Wayne Cohen, DC car accident lawyer
Cohen & Cohen, P.C.
202-600-9627

About Wayne Cohen, Trial Attorney

As a trial lawyer ,Wayne Cohen is constantly going to bat for his clients in the courtroom. Whether it is a personal injury, wrongful death, or medical malpractice, he knows what needs to be done in order to win a case.  Lawyer Wayne Cohen’s years of experience as a trial lawyer gives him an edge that helps his clients recognize that they can rest easy knowing that he is dedicated to their case. For more than twenty years he has taught trial law at the George Washington University School Of Law, with a dedication to the education of his students that will promote them to be the best trial lawyers in the country.  It has been his privilege to be recognized by media channels such as The New York Times and the Washington Post, among many others, for his accomplishments throughout his career and his fervency to being a successful trial lawyer.  Attorney Wayne Cohen has been asked to participate in TV shows as a credible and sought-after trial lawyer with much knowledge in field of trail law and class action suites.

As a founder of his law firm, Cohen and Cohen, he have carefully partnered with some of the most vivacious and talented lawyers in the country. Wayne Cohen is a lawyer that can stand by everyone on his team, knowing they will fight for their clients as he has and will continue to do. His background as an amateur boxer has given him the drive and discipline to lead his clients to a successful outcome no matter the circumstances. His clients concerns and goals are of the upmost importance, making me a trustworthy and responsible trial lawyer. He is proud to say that he has done right by his clients, successfully accruing millions on their behalf to compensate pain and suffering as well as damages to property and loss of income.

Attorney Wayne Cohen’s high success rate and personal dedication to his clients has given him designations such as one of the Top Washington Trial Lawyers, one of Washington’s Best Lawyers, Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, and the one of the most feared lawyers in the D.C. area. With titles and honors set aside, his countless satisfied clients are the ones that can attest to his perseverance and enthusiasm when representing his clients and their needs. He has a passion for servicing the D.C. area, as it has been a home base for him for many years. Whether it is a car or bicycle accident, personal injury, medical malpractice, or any other wrongdoings, Wayne Cohen is a lawyer who will work hard to be the trial lawyer you can recommend to your family and friends. 

Wayne Cohen, lawyer, attorney: How Does A Contingency Fee Work?

Wayne Cohen, lawyer, attorney:  How Does A Contingency Fee Work?


Many states have different rules and regulations regarding contingency fees. For purposes of this blog entry, I’ll speak to generally what occurs in the District of Columbia since I am a personal injury attorney in Washington, DC.   Contingency fees are often used in personal injury cases, and some other types of litigation disputes.  The overall structure of the fee is that the personal injury lawyer is paid a percentage of the recover.  If the lawyer wins the case on behalf of the client, then the lawyer is able to recover a fee.  On the other hand, if the lawyer does not win the case, then there is no fee.  Expenses are usually handled differently, with the client often being responsible for the personal injury attorney’s expenses regardless of what occurs with the fee. 

Contingency fees have pros and cons.  First, let me start with the pros.  The biggest advantage of a contingency fee is that it puts the lawyer and the client in the same situation.  For example, if the case pertains to an automobile accident, and the personal injury lawyer is working on a contingency basis, then the lawyer will not receive a fee unless the client wins the case.  The lawyer has an additional incentive to win the case because the greater the recovery, the bigger the fee. Another advantage is if the client loses the case, there are no fees that are owed to the lawyer.  This places a great amount of risk on the case upon the lawyer.

Now let me go into the cons.  One con of a contingency fee is that they rarely can be used if the client is a defendant in a case.  A defendant means that the client is being sued.  In this case the contingency arrangement is generally one that will not be accepted by a lawyer.

Contingency fees in injury cases usually range between 33 1/3%  and 40%.  Many top personal injury attorneys charge 33 1/3 % of the recovery if the matter does not proceed to litigation, and 40% of the fee if the matter proceeds to litigation.

Wayne Cohen
1220 19th Street, NW
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20036
202-955-4529
www.cohenandcohen.net

How To Select A Personal Injury Lawyer - Washington D.C.

By: Personal Injury Lawyer Wayne Cohen, Cohen & Cohen

If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer, then it is important for you place a lot of effort into making sure you hire the right lawyer.  Here are 5 tips that may be of help to you when looking for a personal injury lawyer.

First, make sure that the lawyer or law firm is licensed in the state where the case occurred. For example, if you are involved in a car accident lawyer in the District of Columbia, but you live in Michigan, it would be prudent to retain counsel in Washington, D.C. and not Michigan.  The D.C. personal injury lawyer may have a better chance of getting you a good result.

Second, ask questions to determine the lawyer's past performance.  Has the lawyer handled this type of injury case before?  What is the lawyer's track record?  What is the lawyer's philosophy on handling this type of case?

Third, what is the lawyer's education background.  For example, did the lawyer attend an accredited law school?  While at law school, was the lawyer a member of the law review? These questions can help give you some background on the lawyer.

Fourth, has the lawyer ever been interviewed by the media?  Quite often, skilled lawyers will be interviewed by various members of the press who may recognize the lawyer as an "expert" in a particular field.

Fifth, determine the lawyer's policies and procedures for staying in contact with you during the case.  Will the lawyer accept emails from you?  How often will you be discussing the case with the lawyer?

Ultimately, no one factor makes a good lawyer.  But together in aggregate, finding the answers to these questions can help you make a smart decision when hiring a personal injury lawyer or a lawyer in a another specialty.