Fascinating!! You answered a lot of questions that I had about the show - I actually go through periods every few years where I binge watch Judge Judy and Judge Mathis. Judy is my fav, but Mathis has a great personality, too.
Anyway, I was surprised to hear actually that the show pays the judgement - are the defendants obliged to reimburse the show? I wonder what the process is there?
Defendants have no obligation whatsoever. (Which makes it all the funnier when losing defendants appear to be so mad when they lose...)
watt!!! That's nuts!! Actually that's kind of disappointing.. they don't really learn anything from the experience that way. :/ Well I guess besides being potentially humiliated on television....