What Wapner hath wrought

Another day, another spate of downbeat legal industry stories: declining revenues , layoffs , budget cuts , last-ditch mergers and bizarre flame-outs. In contrast to BigLaw?s blues, reality TV courtroom shows (FakeLaw?) are absolutely booming. Five years ago, there were seven ersatz courtroom shows on the air. That number has now doubled, with three new shows (Judge Karen, Judge Jeanine Pirro, and Family Court With Judge Penny) debuting in September 2008 alone. At least one other, Street Judge, is on the way. And who can forget Kurt Vonnegut?s endorsement of Judge Judy as Sandra Day O?Connor?s replacement ? You ask, what in tarnation is going on?

According to an amusing article in