Joseph Wapner, the retired Los Angeles judge who presided over "The People's Court" with steady force during the heyday of the reality courtroom show, died Sunday at age 97. His affable, no-nonsense approach attracted many fans, putting "The People's Court" in the top five in syndication at its peak. At one time he was presiding judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, the largest court in the United States. "The People's Court" cases were tried without lawyers by the rules of Small Claims Court, which has a damage limit of $1,500. During his days as presiding Superior Court judge, Wapner was credited with innovations aimed at saving time for trial participants.

Source: Fox News February 26, 2017 20:18 UTC