How does Judge Judy's Court fit into the Legal System?

It doesn't. It's purely a TV show. If it counts as anything, it's binding arbitration - the two sides agree to sign away all their legal rights in return for the fee for being on TV, letting Judy make a final decision, and the knowledge that the TV company pays anything she awards so they can't lose. The procedure follows a small claims court, where the idea is that for a small case, the two sides should be able to appear for themselves without a lawyer, and the maximum possible award of $5,000 pretty much goes along with that.

But it's still worth watching because you can learn a thing or two. Judge Judy IS a retired judge (most recently from Manhattan Family Court) and knows what she is talking about. She goes along with what the law actually is, which for these kinds of cases is much the same everywhere, and she explains it where necessary. Just about every case is about breach of contract or tort, so if you're British (as you mentioned the UK), almost all of that is common law and that is much the same through all the US and the UK, based largely on what just makes common sense. So we get it on British TV too and it makes sense here.

It doesn't resemble a court that would deal with anything bigger, and it's a civil "court" so it will teach you absolutely nothing about how criminal law works.

It's not a court of equity - it's not really a court, just a kind of binding arbitration. Arbitration is used for all kinds of disputes and takes various forms - the Jewish religious courts - Beth Din - are, legally, the same, as are the panels of experts some businesses use in resolve disputes on technical matters. Provided that both parties agree to "Judge" Judy arbitrating their dispute it doesn't matter where they are.

The show is a far cry from the Small Claims court in the UK, which is a real part of the judicial system.

Judge Judy is a retired Manhattan Family Court Judge. The baliff on the show was actually her baliff when she was the Manhattan Family Court Judge.

She lives in NY but the show is produced in CA; she flies there weekly for 3 days of taping.

She adjudicates real life small claims but within a simulated courtroom. When she dismisses a case "with prejudice" that means that the litigants can pursue the case in real court and she will usually do that when she feels that the defendant needs to cough up some of his/her own real money or she thinks that the defendant and plaintiff cooked up a story just to get a "vacation" by being on the show.

The show pays appearance fees of $100 or $250 or $500 plus $35 a day - usually for 2 or 3 days - plus airfare and rooms. The show pays any sums awarded by Judge Judy. The people involved agree not to pursue their cases elsewhere - unless Judge Judy decides a case with prejudice.

The producers of the show search the nation for interesting cases which are presented to Judge Judy. If she agrees to do the case on air then the show contacts the individuals involved who must agree to Judge Judy's decision.

The only "actors" involved are sometimes extras in the courtroom as observers. The cases are real as are the defendants and plaintiffs. Her decisions are real.

NO, it is NOT a 'court of equity'. Legally, it isn't a court at all. It would most closely fall into the category of arbitration. If you READ the onscreen disclaimers, it states that the parties agree to DISMISS their legal cases to have the dispute settled by "Judge Judy". While she attempts to follow the rules of small claims court, the show has all the legal authority you or I would have if we took her place.

lol. Judge Judy's "court" has no legal standing at all -- except --

the participants are paid to bring their case to the court. Each side gets the same payment, BUT the amount awarded by Judge Judy, if any, is deducted from the losing side's payment and given to the winner.

Her 'rulings' are about upholding general principles of law and about fairness ["equity"], they do not have the same legal standing as an ordinary court's enforceable ruling and can not be cited by other courts as precedent.

"Judge" Judy is, of course, an actress and a highly paid one. Afaik, she has no actual standing with any Bar Association.

It doesn't 'fit into' the legal system, it is an entertainment program on TV and all the people sign a contract to say they agree to be on the program and abide by the TV ruling

No, it is not a federal court, judge judy follows the law as it applies in whatever state the plaintife comes from.

It's contractual, like arbitration. It's not a "real" court. In America, our "real" courts, Equity and Law, are merged into one, regardless of their jurisdictions. There may be some exceptions at the federal level.

It is private arbitration. It uses the laws (pretty much) that are in the state where the issue is.

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Interesting facts on the payments from another poster.

$5,000 is the max, but, depending in which state they live in, could be less, like $3,000. It is based on the maximum limit for small claims court in the state the litigants live.