WASHINGTON 鈥斅燚oug Llewelyn spent 12 years interviewing the litigants as they left Judge Joseph Wapner鈥檚 courtroom on “The People’s Court,” and he said the world has lost an iconic judge.
鈥淗e was the real deal and he was all law,鈥� Llewelyn told 海角精品黑料.
Wapner’s family announced the judge’s death on Sunday. He was 97.
Wapner鈥檚 climb to celebrity came after he retired from being a real judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court, and he auditioned for and got the role of America鈥檚 first TV judge. He became a household name in the 1980s and 1990s, presiding over “The People’s Court” for 12 season.
Llewelyn said even though it was a television show, Wapner ran his set as a real courtroom.
鈥淚t was dead serious to him; there was no monkeying around,鈥� Llewelyn added.
Llewelyn said he was the only courtroom reporter on the show who wasn鈥檛 a lawyer, but he learned a lot about the law, as viewers did, from Wapner.
鈥淭he main thing that he did was teach the American public about the small claims court system, which most people in this country didn鈥檛 know existed,鈥� Llewelyn said.
Llewelyn also remembers Wapner as a fun man outside of the courtroom. He recalled a Halloween party at the judge’s home where he was greeted by Wapner and his wife, who were donning Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes.
鈥淗e looked like Judge Wapner dressed as Mickey Mouse; that was the kind of guy he was,鈥� he said.
Llewelyn also said that after rejoining “The People鈥檚 Court” recently, he often thinks about his friend and the impact on his life and career.
鈥淗e was certainly an ideal one to teach me, and the ones who watched, about the law 鈥� no question about it,鈥� Llewelyn said.
