Posted on 02/26/2017 11:43:19 AM PST by SMGFan
Wapner debuted on the television series in 1981 and remained on the "The People's Court" for 12 years. He was technically America's first reality television star. Wapner was described as energetic and opinionated. He reviewed thousands of court cases during his career. Before his stint as a TV star, he served as a judge on the LA County Superior Court for 20 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at wxii12.com ...
Wapner is a graduate of the University of Southern California (1941) and the USC Law School (1948), serving in World War II in between. Wapner was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star while serving in the South Pacific in Cebu. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army as a lieutenant.
Appointed by Governor Pat Brown to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1959, Wapner served two years before being elevated to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where he served for 18 years before retiring. While serving on the Superior Court bench, Wapner also served as presiding judge in 1969 and 1970.
It seems like those shows were on TV since forever.
One measure of its success was a Washington Post survey in 1989 that showed 54 percent of Americans could identify Judge Wapner compared with 9 percent who could name the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, William H. Rehnquist.
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Judge Wapner’s admirers included several members of the Supreme Court. Justice Byron R. White reportedly went to lengths to wangle an invitation when the TV judge came to speak in Washington.
Whizzer meets Wapner?
RIP
Divorce court was cheesy but fun.
RIP Your Honor.
Damn a real shame, really liked him good Judge..I also like Judge Marilyn Millian she is a no nonsense kind of judge..same goes for Judge Judy..RIP Judge Wapner
Judge Wapner was to reality court TV what Rush Limbaugh is to political talk-radio, the original trailblazer. Many have followed, some better, some worse, but they showed the way.
Rusty the Bailiff and Dennis Llewellen are no doubt saddened.
Off to the big holding cell in the sky....
Well, here’s to when TV didn’t have to preach some political agenda or disgust us to be entertaining.
Lol!
Manson once told Rusty that he could escape any time he wanted to. He would be right out the door to freedom.
Rusty coolly replied "Charlie, you wouldn't make it past the railing,"
RIP. Enjoyed him back in the ‘80s.
Misc Judge Wapner YT clips... enjoy...
Doug Llewellen just came back after 20 years, the guy is fearless.
And a war hero to boot. Bravo Judge Wapner.
RIP Your Honor.
I always think of Dustin Hoffman when I see the name Judge Wopner.
A man of learning, substance, and sober judgment - now we have Judge Hatchett - how far the culture has deteriorated.....
I remember when he gave the Sliders the death penalty. Was on a parallel earth.
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