Much of daytime television is filled with court shows, which seem to be extremely popular. In the local area alone, six hours of court dramas are broadcast between ten in the morning and six in the evening on three television stations.
All the judges are well known, as all but two of the shows are named after the man or woman in robes and waving the gavel on the bench. These people have become celebrities and, in one case, the highest-paid person on television.
Less well known, but almost as vital to the shows, are the bailiffs. Each has a personality that complements the judicial ruler at their side, adding to the entertainment of the cases.
The first sheriff to gain notoriety was Rusty Burrell, who kept order for Joe Wapner in the early years of “The People’s Court.” Burrell’s presence was so vital that Wapner, after taking over Animal Court for Animal Planet, insisted that Burrell be cast alongside him.
Burrell’s replacement on “The People’s Court” was Josephine Ann Longobardi, who served as the bailiff on the show when former New York City Mayor Ed Koch replaced Wapner at the bank. She, for some reason, never matched Burrell’s attractiveness, so her tenure was much shorter than his.
Each of the current bailiffs has acquired a loyal following, no doubt aided by the onslaught of the internet and social media that didn’t exist during previous shows. Here are my five favorite sheriffs, ranked in descending order.
5. Juan Bustamante from “Judge Faith”
He’s a big, clean officer who doesn’t hesitate to tell litigants to shut up or wait their turn.
4. Sonia Montejano from “Hot Bank”
A television veteran, Montejano used to hold the same court position as Joe Brown during his tenure in syndication. His greatest strength is probably his fluency in Spanish, which often comes in handy for the trio of Tonya Acker, Patricia Dimango and Larry Bakman.
3. Doyle Devereaux from “Judge Mathis”
He provides comic relief by making wistful remarks during the cases, and his sense of humor is like that of Greg Mathis himself. He very often can’t help but chuckle when litigants are interviewed after their cases.
2. Douglas MacIntosh of “The People’s Court
Judge Marilyn Milian has this former professional soccer player at her service, who appears to be fit enough to continue playing in the National Soccer League. Adding to his charms are his captivating humor and soft, polite way of speaking.
1. Petri-Hawkins Byrd from “Judge Judy”
Judith Scheindlin’s right hand to left is known simply as Byrd, who only speaks when she addresses him. Throughout the cases, he solves crossword puzzles while occasionally digging into the car’s blue book or helping Judy handle a cell phone.
