'Judge Mathis', 'People's Court' canceled by Warner Bros. after more than two decades

The Verdict Is in: The Syndicated Court Staples "Judge Mathis" and "The People's Court" will both end their run at the end of this season, Variety has confirmed. "Judge Mathis" will end after 24 seasons, while this latest iteration of "The People's Court" will end after its 26th season. Season 24 and Season 26, respectively.

Both shows are from Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures Productions and are distributed by Warner Bros. National television distribution. According to insiders, the decision was made due to the declining nature of the daytime syndication landscape. As local TV stations slash their syndication dollars and the advertising market shrinks for daytime syndication, first-run syndication has become a trickier landscape. At the same time, station groups expanded their local news broadcasts, also in an effort to save money.

"Judge Mathis" is also from AND Syndicated Productions, while "The People's Court" is a Ralph Edwards /Stu Billett Production.

“Judge Mathis” won the Daytime Emmy in 2018 for his outstanding legal/courtroom program, as well as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series in 2004. Judge Greg Mathis, a former judge of Michigan's 36th District Court, is the longest-serving black host on television and the second oldest in the history of television in courtrooms. behind "Judge Judy" star Judith Sheindlin.

"Judge Mathis" was also the second longest-running court show in continuous production with the same host, behind "Judge Judy", which ran for 25 seasons. Over the show's history, Judge Mathis has presided over more than 13,000 cases on his show.

As for “The People's Court,” the show won four Daytime Emmy Awards for its outstanding legal/hearing program in 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2021.

When all of its iterations are included, "The People's Court" is the oldest traditional court show and the second longest-running court show overall, with a total of 39 seasons overall as of the 2022-23 TV year (behind "Divorce Court" by one season).

Judge Marilyn Milian has presided over The People's Court since 2001, making her the longest reigning of the series host of the series (22 years old). She was also the first Latina judge to host a nationally broadcast television show.

The current cover of "The People's Court" premiered in 1997 with Ed Koch as the judge, followed by Jerry Sheindlin. The original series ran from 1981 to 1993 with Judge Joseph Wapner.

Milian was appointed to the Miami Circuit Court in 1999. Reporter and TMZ boss Harvey Levin has served as a series host and legal reporter, while Douglas McIntosh is a law officer. Doug Llewelyn, original participant of "The People's Court", also returned to question litigants after a decision was issued.

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