Superior Court (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Superior Court is a television courtroom drama airing in syndication
from 1986 to 1989, and featuring fictionalized re-enactments of actual court cases.
Raymond St. Jacques served as the presiding judge during the first two seasons, while Clayton Thomas was the judge during the final season.
Reruns were later aired on the USA Network
during the early 1990s.
and The People's Court
. Of those two, Superior Court was more like Divorce Court, which involved re-creations 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, oftentimes attorneys, law enforcement officials and others became semi-regulars on the show.
Each episode followed a basic formula, as follows:
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 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.
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
from 1986 to 1989, and featuring fictionalized re-enactments of actual court cases.
Raymond St. Jacques served as the presiding judge during the first two seasons, while Clayton Thomas was the judge during the final season.
Reruns were later aired on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
during the early 1990s.
Format
Superior Court was one of a series of reality-based courtroom television dramas that were created in the mid- to late-1980s, on the heels of two successful programs in the genre: Divorce CourtDivorce Court
Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest...
and The People's Court
The People's Court
The People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration....
. Of those two, Superior Court was more like Divorce Court, which involved re-creations 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, oftentimes 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.
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).
- 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.
- 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.
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.