Judge Joseph Wapner, who famously presided over The People’s Court, has died. He was 97.

Wapner was first hospitalized last week complaining of breathing problems. He was eventually relocated to his Los Angeles residence on Friday as his condition worsened, where he remained under hospice care until his death on Sunday morning.

The People’s Court first launched in September 1981 and became an instant TV phenomenon, paving the way for a slew of daytime courtroom dramas. Wapner was eventually let go from the series amid a potential revamp in 1993, and the show was ultimately cancelled. It returned in 1997, with former...