Judge Jesus

Why are we so hooked on Judge Judy and her bombastic buddies on the bench? Could it be that we sense the innate fairness of taking what is coming to us when we've done wrong? But Jesus has Judy beat on one score: Jesus not only talks the law — he talks grace. 

There are few pleasures greater than watching somebody get what's coming to him. We have a built-in sense of right and wrong, and feel a thrill when justice is done.

You loved it when your mom stuck it to your brother, when your teacher yelled at the class bully, when your camp counselor tore in to troublemakers behind the latrine, and admit it ... you love it now when a cop pulls over the car that just shot past you at a recklessly high rate of speed.

One of the best spots for catching good, stern, tongue-lashing lectures today is the bench of lower court judges -- these guys can lay into punks and deadbeats like Father Knows Best on a caffeine high.

And that may explain the success of Judy Sheindlin, writes Joel Stein in Time magazine. Ever heard of her? You've SEEN her, if only on TV commercials. Judy is a former New York City family-court judge now starring as "Judge Judy" on one of the most popular television shows in syndication. The appeal of TV judge shows is that they...