You PAID FOR THE BAT MITZVAH,

THE ORTHODONTIST, COLLEGE AND
A GOOD PART OF THE WEDDING.

People's Court" brings to TV audi-
ences?
A: An alternative to the programs
they now have available to them on
whether somebody slept with his
mother or whether a murderer is not
responsible because his mother didn't
like him.

Q: Do you think being on television
affects the way people represent
their cases?
A: No. I think they become oblivi-
ous to the fact that they're on televi-
sion. They become emotionally
involved with their own cases and
would be saying exactly the same
thing if there were no television.

\

/—

Q: Do you think there are any
advantages in appearing on televi-
sion for the people who are disput-
ing an issue?
A: There are no advantages in
appearing except that you get a quick
trial. If you wait for a judge in small
claims court, you can wait much
longer.

Q: What makes a good judge?
A: The qualities of a good judge are
intellectual ability, integrity, courage
and judicial temperament.

Q: What have been among your
most interesting cases since you've
been on TV?
A: The one that got the most atten-
tion was the python swallowing the
dog. That case came from California.
There was a guy who owned a pet
python, if you ever can refer to a
python as a pet. The python got out
of the house and was gone for three
days. On the third day, after looking
for it unsuccessfully, the man found
that it had gone a couple of blocks
and had eaten a Chihuahua. The
owner of the Chihuahua could see it
happen through her house window.
She took pictures of it, and she sued. I
tried the case and found in favor of
the Chihuahua and its owner.

Q: Do you find that personality is
more important in being a TV judge
than it is in being an actual judge?
A: I think personality is important
for the comfort of the people who
come before a judge whether it's on
TV or in the courtroom. A judge has
to make litigants feel comfortable.

Q: Do you ever watch other court
programs to get a larger perspective
into what you're doing?

A: I don't have time to watch much
television.

Q: Do you think your Jewish
background prepared you in any way
for what you're doing now?
A: No, but my legal background
did. I don't think being Jewish or
Christian has anything to do with
being a good judge.

Q: As a judge and as a lawyer, do
you have any techniques you believe
make you more aware of whether
someone is honest?
A: I do my best to come to a con-
clusion based on the way they talk,
what they've said, whether they're
inconsistent and their general
demeanor.

Q: How does this role fit into your
daily routine?
A: It takes me two days a week to do
"The People's Court." I tape trials,
which last about a half hour each, from
12:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I do three editorials a week on
Bloomberg's cable station, and I have a
radio talk show every day. I'm a partner
in a law firm, Robinson Silverman, and
I teach at New York University, where I
do six lectures a year. I do a political
column in the New York Post every Fri-
day, and I do movie reviews every
Thursday for six newspapers. I also
have written nine books, and the most
recent came out in October: Murder on
34th Street. I also do commercials
(shown) around the country.

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"

Q: How about things you do to
relax, to get away from work?
A: I go to the movies every Satur-
day and to small restaurants with peo-
ple I've known for 30 or more years.

Q: Are there any Jewish causes or
activities that claim your time?
A: I'm a big supporter of Israel, but
I'm outraged that the Israeli govern-
ment is seeking to make those of us
adherents of the Reform or Conserva-
tive tradition — I'm a Conservative
member — second-class citizens. I rail
against it on my radio program.

Q: If you ever had a legal dispute,
would you take it to a TV judge?
A: I wouldn't have any hesitation if
given the opportunity. Being on TV
or in the courtroom has nothing to do
with a determination that will be
decided for or against me. I have to
depend on the fairness of the courts,
and I do. H

•; ;

-e•-• •

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1998

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