Can I ask a question about Judge Rinder?

[PleaseJustShootMeNow]

There was an ad on for this earlier which sparked a bit of heated debate. My mum is totally enthralled by it and can't wait for it to start. My thoughts were what a load of old trollocks. Does this 'court' any authority or powers at all? My mum certainly believes they do. I just can't see how a tv show can have any sort of legal standing.

Anyone know?

[Lally112]

Yes he does but its just small claims court -like judge judy in America. you wont get murderers or paedophiles or anything just "he scratched my car", "she stole my giro", "I paid him to cut the hedge and he didn't do it", "She kept my engagement ring" sort of crap.

If shes that interested why doesn't she go down her local court and sit in the public gallery? Mondays are good, you get all the usual drunk and disorderly's, public nudities etc that have been arrested over the weekend.

[PleaseJustShootMeNow]

I don't want to encourage her. She already spends way too long pouring over the In Court This Week in the local paper to see if there's anyone she recognises. She'd be the one sat knitting in the front row on hanging day if she could.

So what happens if someone doesn't like the decision on the show? How can they enforce it? Does it make a difference that Judge Rinder isn't actually a judge? (Can you tell I hate being wrong where my mum is concerned?)

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

I thought I read that he was called judge Rimmer. I'm disappointed now

[Lally112]

That I'm not sure on. The English system is different from the Scottish one as we have sheriff courts and high courts here but I am sure if the person doesn't like the decision there may be some sort of appeal process that would require going back through court.

He might not actually be a judge but he is a defence barrister so he does have legal standing but again its set in Manchester and I'm not familiar with the English system. The only reason I know about it in general is DH is in the police and always has stories of the great unwashed (obviously once it has been through court).

[prh47bridge]

He is a barrister, not a judge. He will hear small claims but it is a TV court, not a real court. He can give decisions but he cannot make court orders. I would imagine the participants sign contracts accepting his rulings as legally binding.

[Greengrow]

If it's just a TV show then unless both sides agree to abide by a decision and sign a binding settlement agreement (which happens all the time with disputes either with or without a mediator by the way - much more often than a real court hearing) then it is binding. If they do not accept the decision they can sue in the usual way. they might sign up to some kind of agreement when they go on the show which is a contract.

[Yambabe]

It's based on Judge Judy so it will actually be a mediation with both parties agreeing to abide by the results (and possibly any monetary awards being paid by the show)

However, he will be using proper law to adjudicate so it's going to be a handy guide to how the small claims system works if you ever need to use it.

[TrendStopper]

I love judge judy and will be watching this new show.

I was stunned when I found out that the show paid the judgement. What is the point of that? They are real cases so why doesn't the person in the wrong get punished.

[Friskysquirt]

As Yambabe says it probably is the same as Judge Judy. If you pause at the end of the Judge there's a little bit which says that all monies are paid from a fund maintained by the producers ie the show pays the cash.

But that doesn't make it any less fun. I flaming love it and am about to watch Rinder as I recorded it earlier :D

[TrendStopper]

I watched it today and I am unsure whether I like it or not.

He is quite flamboyant. Some of it was straight out of judge judy.

[Jimmy187]

Love Judge Judy, hate this guy. He's way too obsessed with how he is coming across and seems vain beyond belief. Out of all the people they could've picked to do this show, they pick this loser and now this programme will flop.

[VodkaJelly]

I love Judge Judy, she is one lady you dont want to mess with and my God, she is SHARP, picks a hole in a story a mile off. I really admire her!

Not sure about this new bloke

[PleaseJustShootMeNow]

I'm going to have to watch it now. Argh!

[OwdGit]

I'm with you absolutely on that view!
I thought it was buttock-clenchingly(and I use the term advisedly!) embarrassing to watch him have to call a break while he 'considered the facts'!!.... Look something up, more like; or a quick call to a real judge, for advice!
I'll not be watching any more of him... my buttocks are still cramping from being clenched during the one programme I made the mistake of watching! :-D

[PricillaQueenOfTheDessert]

Love Judge Judy! Saw this today and he's clearly flamboyant and a bit cheeky. But Judy he is not.

[TrendStopper]

Is it me or does anyone else think that his assistant looks like the actress who plays mrs doyle in father ted.

[sco22uk]

TrendStopper I went to a filming session and sat in the audience. Before the cameras were rolling I heard one of the contestants talking about getting the money off ITV if they win. They both sign to agree to participate, on the provision one gets paid to settle the dispute. I think the main point is the person wants to settle the dispute in the way of financial compensation. Where the person pays it or not is irrelevant, considering they've just shamed them to a whole audience lol. The person loosing at least gets a quiet life, so everyone wins.

OwdGit it's quite common even for a judge to deliberate in order to make a decision. He has no choice but to rule with within the confinements of the law. If you come across a law book, you'll know why he deliberates. He only did it once when I was there, but I completely understood why he wanted to check a finer point as it sways the whole case.

I don't think he's trying to be Judge Judy, its just meant to be entertaining. Off camera he's really nice to the audience and asks us what we thought. I hope it takes off as its interesting when it is put in a UK context.

[Scarletohello]

I watched it for the first time yesterday in horrified fascination! The 'Judge' is very camp and quite rude ( but more polite than some judges I've come across ). I bloody loved it...

[Scarletohello]

Just watching it again today, am laughing so much!!

[EarthWindFire]

I'm watching now and loving it

[AnotherGirlsParadise]

DP and I are at home with our 9 day old at the moment, and we're addicted to this bloody show - he's hysterical. I read somewhere that his usual field of expertise in court are war crimes, so I reckon he's pretty savage in his day job, and the show gives him the chance to ham it up a bit.

And I just love the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch officiated at his wedding.

[Nerf]

Dreadful - I love JJ but this guy is just so keen to portray a certain image and is awful.
No one gets a chance to talk properly or explain anything so it's complete crap anyway.

[TrendStopper]

It is getting worse every episode.

Who goes to court saying that someone has taken money from your bank account with no bank statement to prove it. It is quite easy to get a print out.

[SavoyCabbage]

It's rubbish compared to Judge Judy. I've watched two and he just wheels out the same 'hilarious' lines over and over. He loves himself!

If you look up judge Judy on Wikipedia it tells you how they manage the legal side if things. I know as I had to look it up for my own mother a few years ago...