Hidden Judge Judy clause that completely changes the show

Judge Judy has adjudicated a seemingly inexhaustible supply of real-life small claim disputes. Photo / Getty Images

One of television's most dependable institutions, Judge Judy, is finally coming to an end after 25 seasons.

Judge Judith Sheindlin herself appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres show this week, where she told DeGeneres that the 2020-21 season of Judge Judy – the show's 25th – will be its last.

"CBS sort of felt, I think, they wanted to optimally utilise the repeats of my program," she said.

"Now they have 25 years of my re-runs," she added.

But there's a surprising fact about the show that even some of its most loyal fans may not realise.

Judge Judy has adjudicated a seemingly inexhaustible supply of real-life small claim disputes. Photo / Getty Images

Over the years, Judge Judy has adjudicated a seemingly inexhaustible supply of real-life small claim disputes, ruling that those in the wrong must pay the other party anywhere up to $US5000 in damages.

You might wonder – how, after so many years on air, does Judge Judy still manage to get willing participants for the show? Why would anyone run the risk of international TV humiliation and a public dressing down when you could tend to the matter in the relative privacy of a small claims court?

Well, the answer is simple. In return for appearing on the show, the producers cover all costs in Judge Judy's rulings.

That's right: every single one of Judge Judy's rulings – that aggrieved party 'A' has to pay aggrieved party 'B' a sum of several hundred or thousand dollars to cover the costs of trashing their house / totalling their car / killing their budgie – said costs are covered by the show, from a fund reserved specifically for this purpose.

And not only will you not lose out financially by going on Judge Judy, you actually stand to make a little bit of money – even if she rules against you.

Just remember, the next time you're cheering as Judge Judy dresses down some small-time crook, demanding they pay up – they'll be doing nothing of the sort, and in fact going home on a free flight a few hundred dollars richer.