Judge Judy is a long-running American arbitration-based reality court show presided over by retired Manhattan family court Judge Judy Sheindlin. The show features Sheindlin adjudicating real-life small claim disputes within a simulated courtroom set. All parties involved must sign contracts agreeing to arbitration under Sheindlin. The series is in first-run syndication and distributed by CBS Television Distribution. The court show's 21st season commenced on Monday, September 12, 2016.