Complaint Alleges Racial Screening of 'Judge Judy' Cases

Posted by Eriq Gardner

We've never been a fan of the TV judge shows. The level of legal discourse isn't exactly  in Clarence Darrow territory. Plus, none of the litigants use lawyers (and many of the arbiters of TV justice aren't actually judges in real life).

Now comes word that a former producer of the genre's 600-pound gorilla, "Judge Judy," isn't thrilled with the show. He filed a wrongful termination lawsuit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming producers don't want black people on the program.

Jonathan Sebastien was fired from "Judge Judy" after working for more than seven years. In his complaint filed against Paramount, Big Ticket Television, CBS, and show supervisor Randy Douthit, Sebastien says that producers indicated that he was fired because "numbers were down," presumably referring to ratings. But Sebastien alleges the "real reason" he was let go was due to his opposition to the show's "discriminatory selection process."

Sebastien alleges Douthit told producers, "We're not doing any more black shows;" "I don't want to hear no black language on T.V.;" "I don't want to hear black people arguing;" and other comments. Sebastien, who is seeking unspecified damages, claims he submitted cases featuring African American people anyway, only to have them rejected and mocked by Douthit.

Producers weren't immediately available for response.

Comments

[WhiteMediaIsSoTypical]

well, this is very typical of the white media. No surprise to me!

[todd]

ALL BLACK PPL THINK THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE RACISTS AND ANYTHING WE DO, RACIST OR NOT, MOSLY NOT, IS ALWAYS RACISTS TO THEM....I JUST LAUGH TO MYSELF.....ALL THOSE BLACKS THAT THINK THAT BIASED WAY....HAHAH I HAVE A GOOD STORY SOME BLACK CHIK IN CALIFORNIA WAS WALKING BY US AND MY FRIEND WAS LAUGHING AT SOMETHING TOTALLY UNRELATED...THE BLACK CHIK WAS LIKE OHH U RACIST MOTHERF'R YOUR GONNA GET UR A$$ KICKED, STAY RIGHT HERE....AS SHE DIALED HER PHONE....I WAS LIKE ARE U KIDDING ME...BUT HEY, THATS BLACK PPL FOR U

[McG]

"Here come the Judge......Judy." Leave the woman alone. She's very entertaining and I love her show.

[Maureen Carroll]

Come on Judge Judy, you have one of the best court TV shows, and you make a TON of money. However, I must say...you were WAY out of line, and by the way I am white. Also, even tho you could care less, you are at many times on your show VERY rude, and it is really geting to much how often you keep referring to how smart you are. It is not necessary to keep saying it.
Maureen Carroll PMCSR1@aol.com

[Maureen Carroll]

Come on Judge Judy, you have one of the best court TV shows, and you make a TON of money. However, I must say...you were WAY out of line, and by the way I am white. Also, even tho you could care less, you are at many times on your show VERY rude, and it is really geting to much how often you keep referring to how smart you are. It is not necessary to keep saying it.
Maureen Carroll PMCSR1@aol.com

[Patman]

Judge Judy does have one of the best court shows on TV and I've never seen her indicate in any way that she is racist. She has more common sense than most of the people involved in litigation on the program. America needs more people like her, and yes, she is very smart and should be very proud of it.

[Barbara Ende]

I am so sick and tired of Judge Judy telling everyone how smart she is and making fun of people by calling them names. I stopped watching at least six months ago. I think she is prejudiced and has no compassion for underpriveliged people. She makes up her mind by taunting and not by the spirit of the law.

[kate blum]

I NEVER HEARD JUDGE JUDY MAKING ANY KIND OF RACIST REMARK BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR SHE CAN GET YOUR ATTENTION NO MATTER WHAT. YES BY THE WAY I AM A BLACK AMERICAN WOMEN

[Jack]

I have watched Judge Judy, and I must say that some of the black sure get wound up on the show. But I think that is part of what makes it a show and the way that she handles them. However the bottom line is they come on there argue and what ever but in the end it still does not cost them anything because the show pays the award. However it seems that more of the blacks are there for things that are more personal insults rather then just a damage of physical stuff. These are the kind of law suits that would never make it into a real court room, but these people enjoy being on TV and they end up making a few bucks.

[Emarie]

It wasn't Judge Judy who made the decision on what to aire it was the show supervisor Randy Douthit.

[Pj Knight]

You people with these off the wall remarks. #1 don't you have anything better to do then try to add fuel to the fire. So what if they are trying to keep blacks off. I am # 1 the most un racial person in the world. I am white prowd of it and if I were black I would be proud of it. The thing is one person as gone out and sued someone for racial problems and now all the blacks want to sue. You don't see whites suing every tom dick and harry. You just don't see it. I wish before it is too late that the whites, blacks, mexicans could all get along. You know what is so bad is we are not the ones that are going to pay for it. It is our children and our grandchildren, that are going to inherit our legacy. Wise up, be smart. If you can stay on the computer and read this crap and send stupid comments about this stuff then you must be pretty rich, or smart. Get a Life before it is too Late.

[Mike]

I think Judge Judy should have her case Heard on The Judge Joe Brown show and let him settle it

[Denise]

I watch judy Judy everyday. Never has she made any racial remarks, and the show has always had a mixture of all races. I think this guy is just upset he lost his job and decided to take it further by using a racial excuse. Not sure if this guy is black or white, but my guess would be black. If he's white, then what better excuse to use when your mad about losing your job, than a racial one. He needs to just move on and get another job. There's no truth to the allegations, and the Judge Judy Show will always be the number one court show. The only thing this guy is proving and bringing attention to, is that his work ethics and performance in his job profession is less than adequate. Move on.

[Debi]

What planet did you people come from that blame Judge Judy for the firing?? Maybe all of you need to learn to read!!! Judge Judy wasn't named as the problem! You don't even read the article before you start firing off at something that wasn't even said! Get a life!

[Rick, the Black Truthslayer]

WhiteMediaIsSoTypical, your utter ignorance veiled in your hatred towards Black people is showing. I'm Black. My entire household as well as the vast majority of my associates are Black. I'm 45 years old. I've NEVER heard any Black person assert that ALL white people are racist. lol The truth is some are and some aren't. And the vast majority of Black people will attest to this fact. Stop listening to the likes of AL and Jesse. stop listening to Rappers and Stop looking at reruns of COPS to base your views on what Black people are thinking. I'm sure you don't have ANY black friends making such an absurd comment. Rappers, Al or Jesse do not reflect the views of the whole, Black America. Perhaps you should ask the white media WHY^ they are always running to these clowns. Surely the white can find some knowledgable and learned Black person for their opine.

Rick, the Black Truthslayer
jiggavideo@aol.com

[Rick, the Black Truthslayer]

As a Black person, I long discovered that many of my people are emotionally immature or emotionally 'out of control.' This is fun. It's cultural. Howbeit, I think it lends to many of my people having a violent predisposition. I've concluded that this is the result of many Blacks being raised in the home by overly emotional, emotionally immature, out of control Black females. With the absence of a productive male presence in the Black home, that needed sense of emotional balance is lost, I think.

Rick, the Black Truthslayer
jiggavideo@aol.com

[b. j.]

I agree, let judge joe hear this case! I think she's rude and entertaining but so is jerry s. if you like that UGH!!!

[Rick, the Black Truthslayer]

CORRECTION: my message addressed to WhiteMediaIsSoTypical WAS MEANT FOR THE RACIST FUCK NAMED TODD. I guess Todd lost his min. wage job to some black kid and now he's angry at ALL Black people. lol

Rick, the Black Truthslayer
jiggavideo@aol.com

[A nurse]

We are all human beings and last time I checked we all bleed red blood. The black and white has to stop--when you're at the gates and being judged by a higher power, we are judged on what we have done ---NOT COLOR! When two children are playing together does race ever come up--NEVER!!! So what ever happened to us?????

[Rick, the Black Truthslayer]

A nurse -- it'll NEVER stop as long as evil resides in the heart of man. It needs to be addressed and healthy dialogs created rather than have racist diatribe swept under the rug.

Personally, I find racist (black, white and other) to be the most ingnorant bunch of all.

[JT]

judge judy is not married to a black mail.her husband use to be a judge for the peoples court a few years ago.

[angela conner]

she needs to be taken off no likes hes any way shes a loud mother person not women tha needs to shut up her mmouth shes to old and don"t even knows wahts going on in the real world go home ifell sorry for your husband to have to take all the mouth from her

[JT]

judge judy is not married to a black mail.her husband use to be a judge for the peoples court a few years ago.

[JT]

judge judy is not married to a black man.her husband use to be a judge for the peoples court a few years ago.

[Glad]

Hey people, Judge Judy is not being sued. It's the Producer, Paramount and the TV station. One thing I have learned in life, read, hear and listen before you speak. Judge Judy is a great lady and presents herself as a professional that she is.

[Ann Marie]

I am can that Judge Judy is like this because .She seems to have an attitude towrds blacks. I don,t even watch her show anymore bjust because of her attitude. I for one am glad that she is being sued.

[NJC]

I am a black female and I watch Judge Judy frequently. There are ignorant angry individuals in every race. Ignorance has no bounderies. I try to surround myself with positive thinking people, however, people filled with anger and negativety I have no time for.

[Bill]

She is a true BITCH and I hope she gets her juat due.This womans motto is GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT....

[SANTA PASQUALE]

JUST BECAUSE YOU GOT FIRED, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING UP AND YUP CRYING RASIST ALWAYS WINS!!! IT IS A BUNCH OF CRAP!!

[candy]

What do you care what black people think about white people, and what do you care about white people think about black people!Gosh can we all just get along. Get a life! are go stand in a corner.

[Vic]

In the court of law the only color that matters is the color of stop signs lights and your car lights
I just registered my expired tag... and thats another color
throw the bs out the door and get real
if you break the law you get nailed.. been there done that you dont need to know my color
because it makes no difference
point said!!!!!

[Janet]

I love the Judge Judy show. She tells it like it is and hates deadbeats. The judge does not choose the litigants for the shoe. She is not the one that is racist.

[Tbear]

Take that to court!

[ANYONE USA]

WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE LABELED AS RACIST

[Jane Doe]

Every one Im just posting. But how me and my black/white family just think its a color! I mean we are ALL humans arent we!? Serously! And also Im not blaming any one. If you want to be racist fine not my problem! Not any body elses problem! we are all the same but all DIFFRENT!

[Marie Martin]

I think this is hilarious, how all you folks get bent out of shape. Personally, the some of the judge shows are very entertaining. I am black and proud. I love Judge Judy, love Judge Mathis, love Lynn Toler on Divorce court. I think all these shows have a balance of black uneducated folks and also white uneducated trailer pk trash. I love when Judy tells them off.

With 40 years of experience, she knows what she is talking about. My husband dislike her, but I love, love, love,love her.

By the way, I hate BET.

[Carolyn Blizzard]

I for one am happy! I think these court shows do nothing but exploit and embarrass African Americans acting silly on television. Judy keep up the good work!!

[Mary Green]

I love the Judge Judy show. She is very fair. Some of the people that are on her show need to be talk about and Judge Judy is the one to do it. I would like to see her show come on late nights. I get off work at 4:30pm and only get to hear her as I drive home from work. It would be nice if she could come on twice a day, since the show is so popular.

[djteel]

funny,but now black hollywood is mad because there's not a black in every 'white' movie as a a costar or main character..they really insist on forcing themselves in to any 'all white' situation whether it's neighborhoods,movies, ,sitcoms,etc...what is it about something being all or predominantly white that bothers them.hell,i don't complain about the wayans brothers movies and the other black movies in the theatres being an all black cast!! i'm starting to get a really bad attitude lately toward blacks for the reason that they seem to believe any situation,regardless what it is,that if it's predominantly white that it's somehow unfair to them as though they're owed something!!!

effing losres