Bailiff actress Selma Diamond died of lung cancer after the show's second season; her replacement, Florence Halop, was also a heavy smoker who developed lung cancer and died after recording only the third season.

Marsha Warfield took over as bailiff Roz Russell following the deaths of both previous bailiff actresses and played the role until the series ended in 1992.

Shelley Hack, known from Charlie's Angels, was originally hired in 1984 to play public defender Christine Sullivan, but during rehearsals the role was rewritten from a funny character into a straight woman, which didn't work, so Hack and producer Reinhold Weege mutually agreed she would leave the show.

Markie Post first appeared as public defender Christine Sullivan as a guest in the intended season 2 premiere before joining the main cast from season 3 onward.

The show's Latin jazz-influenced theme was composed by Jack Elliott and featured Ernie Watts on saxophone, accompanied by footage of New York City landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York County Courthouse.

The Night Court theme was later used in a Family Guy episode animating former President Bill Clinton playing saxophone, and was also sampled in the remix of Cam'Ron's 1998 single 'Horse & Carriage'.

The distinctive laugh heard over the closing 'Starry Night Productions' logo and throughout the studio audience across many seasons was long mistaken for voice actor Mel Blanc or star Harry Anderson, but it actually belonged to Chuck Weege, the father of series creator Reinhold Weege, who attended nearly every taping until his son left the show after season six.

John Larroquette won four consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 1985 to 1988 before voluntarily withdrawing his name from the ballot in 1989.