Superior Court is a dramatized court show that aired in syndication from 1986 to 1989, and featuring fictionalized re-enactments of actual court cases.
William D. Burns, Jr., a former municipal court commissioner for the city of Beverly Hills, presided for the first season. He was replaced for the second season by Jill Jakes, a former judge of that court, and Louis M. Welsh, a retired San Diego Superior Court judge. In the final season, actor Raymond St. Jacques portrayed Judge Clayton C. Thomas.
Reruns were later aired on the USA Network during the early 1990s.
Formatedit
Superior Court was one of a series of dramatized court shows that were created in the mid- to late-1980s, on the heels of two successful programs in the genre: Divorce Court and The People's Court (which was its sister show, being produced by the same studio and production company). Of the two, Superior Court was more like Divorce Court, which involved recreations of actual proceedings.
On Superior Court, actors portrayed the attorneys, the plaintiff(s) (in civil proceedings where compensation was demanded), the defendant(s) (in both civil and criminal stories) and key witnesses. As the stories were set in a single urban area (the city was called Madison Heights), often attorneys, law enforcement officials and others became semi-regulars on the show.
Each episode followed a basic formula, as follows:
Each attorney giving opening statements.
Each side presenting their case. Often, one or two supporting witness would testify on behalf of the appropriate side, along with cross-examination.
Closing arguments.
The decision, either by the judge or (sometimes) the jury, followed by appropriate reactions by each side. A voice-over announcer then gave a postlogue, telling viewers what became of the principal figures in the case. If a social issue was addressed that played a major role in the trial, the postlogue also included what changed—or did not change—as a result of the trial's outcome.
Both criminal and civil proceedings were presented. Like Divorce Court, the writers of Superior Court tended to focus on "shock value" rather than routine cases (to maintain viewer interest). Some examples:
A young murder defendant is accused of killing a romantic rival after being spurned by a young woman. The defendant, however, claims he saw the murder play out in a dream, with the actual perpetrator another man whom authorities are unable to locate.
An elderly farmer who was swindled out of $1 million by an unethical banker, who had attempted eminent domain on his property to develop low-cost housing.
A collegiate football star who, along with two teammates, are accused of raping a young woman during what was supposed to be a study date. In the end, the jury delivers a shocking verdict that will outrage the judge.
Neighbors who, frustrated with constant speeding in their residential neighborhood and perceived inaction by the city council, take matters into their own hands by creating a "speed bump," one that after a major accident cripples a young woman and kills her boyfriend.
A blue collar-worker, accused in the beating death of his wife, contends that his wife had been involved in a car accident, and the force from a bowling ball carried in the car, claimed to have been throw into the front seat of the car and into the back of the woman's head upon impact, was to blame.
A 7-year-old girl accused of killing her 5-year-old sister, and her father – a respected Southern Baptist minister and community leader – adamantly objects to his daughter becoming a ward of the state. When the girl is called to the witness stand to explain her actions, she is very timid until the judge has her father removed from the courtroom; he had noticed he had been intimidating her from the gallery ... and in the end, some very sinister, well-concealed secrets rise to the surface.
A serial killer, charged in the rapes and murders of several young women, maintained an insanity plea, noting that "God" had told him to commit the murders because they were too beautiful to live.
A police officer, when responding to a domestic disturbance, shoots and kills a man who was beating up his wife. The officer eventually is forced to reveal some very painful secrets from his childhood, telling how they influenced his stance on domestic violence and, ultimately, his actions toward the abuser.
Some episodes had one case, which lasted the entire show, while others had two. While most of the cases were serious, there was the occasional case—unusual or quirky by its circumstances, but could happen—that was played more for comedic value.
Referencesedit
^(PDF). tarlton.law.utexas.edu. pp. 14–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2014. Style Court (Entertainment Television, 8/03-1/04)
^Chun, Wendy Hui Kyong; Keenan, Thomas (June 2004). New Media, Old Media: A History and Theory Reader. ISBN9780203643839.
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Superior Court is a dramatized court show that aired in syndication from 1986 to 1989 and featuring fictionalized re enactments of actual court cases Superior CourtGenredramatized court show Reality legal programming 1 2 JudgesWilliam D Burns Jr 1986 87 Jill Jakes and Louis Welsh 1987 88 Raymond St Jacques as Judge Clayton C Thomas 1988 89 No of seasons4No of episodesApproximately 760ProductionExecutive producerStu BillettRunning time22 minutesProduction companyStu Billett ProductionsRalph Edwards ProductionsReleaseOriginal networkSyndicationOriginal releaseSeptember 7 1986 1986 09 07 1989 1989 William D Burns Jr a former municipal court commissioner for the city of Beverly Hills presided for the first season He was replaced for the second season by Jill Jakes a former judge of that court and Louis M Welsh a retired San Diego Superior Court judge In the final season actor Raymond St Jacques portrayed Judge Clayton C Thomas Reruns were later aired on the USA Network during the early 1990s Format editSuperior Court was one of a series of dramatized court shows that were created in the mid to late 1980s on the heels of two successful programs in the genre Divorce Court and The People s Court which was its sister show being produced by the same studio and production company Of the two Superior Court was more like Divorce Court which involved recreations of actual proceedings On Superior Court actors portrayed the attorneys the plaintiff s in civil proceedings where compensation was demanded the defendant s in both civil and criminal stories and key witnesses As the stories were set in a single urban area the city was called Madison Heights often attorneys law enforcement officials and others became semi regulars on the show Each episode followed a basic formula as follows Each attorney giving opening statements Each side presenting their case Often one or two supporting witness would testify on behalf of the appropriate side along with cross examination Closing arguments The decision either by the judge or sometimes the jury followed by appropriate reactions by each side A voice over announcer then gave a postlogue telling viewers what became of the principal figures in the case If a social issue was addressed that played a major role in the trial the postlogue also included what changed or did not change as a result of the trial s outcome Both criminal and civil proceedings were presented Like Divorce Court the writers of Superior Court tended to focus on shock value rather than routine cases to maintain viewer interest Some examples A young murder defendant is accused of killing a romantic rival after being spurned by a young woman The defendant however claims he saw the murder play out in a dream with the actual perpetrator another man whom authorities are unable to locate An elderly farmer who was swindled out of 1 million by an unethical banker who had attempted eminent domain on his property to develop low cost housing A collegiate football star who along with two teammates are accused of raping a young woman during what was supposed to be a study date In the end the jury delivers a shocking verdict that will outrage the judge Neighbors who frustrated with constant speeding in their residential neighborhood and perceived inaction by the city council take matters into their own hands by creating a speed bump one that after a major accident cripples a young woman and kills her boyfriend A blue collar worker accused in the beating death of his wife contends that his wife had been involved in a car accident and the force from a bowling ball carried in the car claimed to have been throw into the front seat of the car and into the back of the woman s head upon impact was to blame A 7 year old girl accused of killing her 5 year old sister and her father a respected Southern Baptist minister and community leader adamantly objects to his daughter becoming a ward of the state When the girl is called to the witness stand to explain her actions she is very timid until the judge has her father removed from the courtroom he had noticed he had been intimidating her from the gallery and in the end some very sinister well concealed secrets rise to the surface A serial killer charged in the rapes and murders of several young women maintained an insanity plea noting that God had told him to commit the murders because they were too beautiful to live A police officer when responding to a domestic disturbance shoots and kills a man who was beating up his wife The officer eventually is forced to reveal some very painful secrets from his childhood telling how they influenced his stance on domestic violence and ultimately his actions toward the abuser Some episodes had one case which lasted the entire show while others had two While most of the cases were serious there was the occasional case unusual or quirky by its circumstances but could happen that was played more for comedic value References edit Reality Courtroom Series 1949 2005 PDF tarlton law utexas edu pp 14 15 Archived from the original PDF on January 16 2014 Style Court Entertainment Television 8 03 1 04 Chun Wendy Hui Kyong Keenan Thomas June 2004 New Media Old Media A History and Theory Reader ISBN 9780203643839 External links editSuperior Court at IMDb Ralph Edwards Productions website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Superior Court TV series amp oldid 1167041551, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
