Those shows are pretty interesting. The judges aren't real judges (though most of them were judges in the past). You might wonder, as I did, why on earth defendants who are often obviously in the wrong, would agree to go on the show. The way they often work is if the plaintiff wins their judgement fee is paid by the producers of the show (not the defendant). If the defendant wins both parties receive an appearance fee. It's a binding arbitration as well so going on the show is a great deal for the defendant because there is no financial repercussions to them, it may get them out of a potential judgement in a real civil court, and they might even make some money. All it costs them is potentially looking like an idiot on national television.