What is it with the judge/courtroom shows?

Why is there a proliferation of courtroom shows on tv now? And why are most of the judges minority men and women? Judge Judy is the only white woman I know of, and Judge Wapner (I think the spelling is wrong) before the show got a new judge, who happens to be a hispanic woman. It makes me wonder about the motives of the judges themselves. Are they simply riding the current of people's interests in such shows, or were there some political/career motivations behind becoming syndicated legal personalities. What were their records like before becoming tv judges? What will happen once they return to private practice? Will people take them seriously, or will they be remembered as "Judge So and So" from channel whatever? I know that they had to fight hard to become the judges they are, especially because most of them are either minority and/or women. So, it just makes me wonder if all they have fought for and accomplished is not in vain because they made the decision to be put on tv and seen by millions of people... or because the people who frequent the shows have some overly dramatic situation that allowed them to get their fifteen seconds of fame. I wonder if such things will stagnate their careers after while, or if they will even return to careers after having participated in such shows... hmmm... i was just wondering....