ALL ACTORS!
All plaintiffs and defendants are actors. Why did Judge Marilyn Milian think this was a good move? She had two decades at "The People's Court", a beloved show and the gold standard for these court-based TV series.
The People's Court was so good because it was actual litigants, real cases that they agreed to have mediated by a judge, and Judge Milian taught the viewing audience about legal principle and common sense ways to avoid becoming a litigant yourself! (Grab the nearest crayon and a roll of toilet paper and get a RECEIPT!)
I wonder if the money from Byron Allen's production company was just too lucrative to turn down.
Judge Milian, there's still time to switch to a new chapter in life! Case closed!