Marilyn Milian

Marilyn Milian has presided over The People's Court since 2001, making her the longest-running arbitrator in the show's history. She succeeded Judge Jerry Sheindlin, who had himself taken over from the original judge Joseph Wapner. Milian has served on the program for over two decades.

Yes, Marilyn Milian served as a judge in Florida's Miami-Dade County Court system before transitioning to television. She was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court in 1999 and later served in the circuit court. On The People's Court, she functions as a binding arbitrator rather than a sitting judge, as parties agree to arbitration.

Marilyn Milian is of Cuban descent and was born in Queens, New York, to Cuban immigrant parents. She is recognized as the first Hispanic judge to host a major syndicated courtroom television show. She is fluent in Spanish and has spoken about how her Cuban-American heritage has shaped her perspective.

The People's Court uses a binding arbitration process in which both parties agree in advance to accept Marilyn Milian's decision as final. The cases are genuine small-claims disputes removed from local court dockets. Any monetary judgment awarded is paid by the show's production, meaning neither party is financially penalized by losing.