According to series creator Reinhold Weege on the season 1 DVD commentary, when it is mentioned in the first episode that Harry Stone is a Mel Tormé fan, friends and relatives of the famed jazz and pop singer called Tormé to tell him about the reference. Tormé was so flattered that when the series later contacted him about appearing on the show, he was more than happy to do so. Tormé has also stated that largely due to the "Night Court" references, he noticed that his audience at concerts started to get younger and younger, and that his newfound resurgence was because of the show.
After John Larroquette won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series four years in a row, he asked that his name be taken out of consideration. He was also offered a spin-off series based around the character of Dan Fielding, but turned it down.
The show featured over five cast changes within the first year, including six female leads being featured before Markie Post was settled on. Post was the producers original choice in Season 2, but could not get out of her The Fall Guy (1981) contract. Gail Strickland played the public defender in the pilot episode before being replaced by Paula Kelly, who was then replaced in Season 2 by Ellen Foley before Post joined in Season 3. Post did guest star in a Season 2 episode as Christine Sullivan just before Foley's arrival. Two court clerks were featured, first Karen Austin, then Charles Robinson, beginning Season 2. Three bailiff changes were Selma Diamond, who died after the show's second season, Florence Halop, who died the following year, then Marsha Warfield, who remained until the show's finish. The only cast members to remain from the pilot until the finale were Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, and Richard Moll.
After Selma Diamond passed away following the completion of Season 2, she was replaced by Florence Halop, due largely to the fact that she had comedy timing and mannerisms similar to Selma. However, when Florence passed away after completing just one season (Season 3), it was decided by the producers to hire a younger actress for the role, and Marsha Warfield was hired as Roz.
The series was originally set to debut at the start of the 1983-84 season. NBC, concerned about Harry Anderson's lack of acting experience, decided to delay the show. NBC ended up cancelling every new series that premiered that September, and the show was picked up as a mid-season replacement.