Queen Bee Productions

Judith Sheindlin
Born	Judith Susan Blum (1942-10-21) October 21, 1942 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, jurist, television arbitrator, producer
Known for	Judge Judy, Judy Justice

Judith Susan Sheindlin (née Blum; born October 21, 1942), widely recognized as Judge Judy, is an American lawyer, jurist, television arbitrator, and producer.

Sheindlin starred in the highly rated courtroom series Judge Judy for 25 seasons, airing from September 16, 1996, until July 23, 2021. She holds the distinction of being the longest-serving television arbitrator in the history of courtroom programming, a record acknowledged by the Guinness World Records in 2015. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2019.

On November 1, 2021, Sheindlin premiered Judy Justice, a new arbitration-based court show streamed on IMDb TV (later Amazon Freevee until its discontinuation in 2025), continuing her legacy of resolving legal disputes on screen. After securing the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2022 for Judy Justice, she became the sole television arbitrator to have won this accolade for multiple series: three times for Judge Judy and once for Judy Justice.

Early life and education

Born Judith Susan Blum in Brooklyn, New York, Sheindlin descends from German Jewish and Russian Jewish heritage. She fondly recalls her father Murray (1917–1989), a dentist she described as "the greatest thing since sliced bread," and her mother Ethel (1921–1980), who worked as an office manager and was characterized by Sheindlin as "a meat and potatoes kind of gal."

She completed her secondary education at James Madison High School in 1961 before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1963. She then attained her Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School in 1965.

Legal career

After successfully passing the New York state bar examination in 1965, Sheindlin initially practiced as a corporate lawyer at a cosmetics company but left within two years to focus on raising her children, Jamie and Adam. In 1972, she entered the New York family court system as a prosecutor.

In 1982, she was appointed by New York mayor Ed Koch to serve as a criminal-court judge. Four years later, she advanced to supervising judge of Manhattan's family court division. Throughout her tenure, she earned a reputation for being a strict judge, although she has disputed labels such as "tough" and "harsh."

Entertainment career

Sheindlin first attracted national attention in February 1993 through a Los Angeles Times feature by Josh Getlin that highlighted her efforts to reform the court system. Her profile was further elevated by a segment on CBS's 60 Minutes, which paved the way for her debut book, Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining, published in 1996. That same year, after presiding over more than 20,000 cases, she retired from family-court judging.

Judge Judy

In 1995, Sheindlin launched the syndicated courtroom reality series Judge Judy, which premiered on September 16, 1996. The program ran for an impressive 25 seasons until July 23, 2021, featuring genuine cases with binding decisions. Bailiff Petri Byrd—who had previously worked alongside Sheindlin in Manhattan family court—became the longest-tenured bailiff in courtroom television history.

Throughout its broadcast tenure, Judge Judy consistently dominated Nielsen ratings, attracting nine to ten million viewers daily and occasionally surpassing The Oprah Winfrey Show. From 2009 until its conclusion, it held the top spot as the highest-rated daytime television show and first-run syndication program. Brendan I. Koerner observed that the show's success stemmed from its rapid delivery of justice and authoritative rulings without procedural delays.

A 2013 survey by Reader's Digest revealed that Americans placed more trust in Judge Judy than all nine Supreme Court justices combined. In recognition of her cultural impact, she was named one of VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons in 2003; numerous television programs and award ceremonies have referenced her.

The series garnered Sheindlin numerous accolades including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2006), induction into Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame (2012), the Gracie Allen Tribute Award presented by the Alliance for Women in Media, and the Mary Pickford Award at the Heroes of Hollywood event in 2014.

After receiving fifteen nominations, Judge Judy won its first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2013 and secured additional wins in both 2016 and 2017. In 2015, Guinness World Records officially recognized Sheindlin as the longest-serving judge and host of any courtroom television show.

Her earnings from the program attracted significant media attention; reports indicated an annual salary of $25 million in 2005 that increased to $45 million by 2008. By early 2007, her net worth was estimated at $95 million, ranking her number thirteen among Forbes' wealthiest women in entertainment. Forbes later estimated her pretax income at $147 million by 2017.

Although she contemplated retirement around 2010, Sheindlin renewed her contract several times through CBS Television Distribution before concluding Judge Judy after its twenty-fifth season in 2021. The final recorded case aired on June 8 with the series finale broadcast on July 23. She cited dissatisfaction with ViacomCBS management and ongoing litigation as contributing factors influencing her decision to end the show.

To mark the conclusion of the final season, Josh Getlin—the journalist who originally profiled Sheindlin—published a retrospective piece on June 8, 2021, reflecting on their enduring professional relationship and her transformative influence on televised courtroom programming.

Judy Justice

Debuting on November 1, 2021, shortly after the conclusion of Judge Judy, Sheindlin now oversees Judy Justice, a spin-off series available exclusively on the streaming platform Amazon Freevee (formerly known as IMDb TV). This show marks the first traditional courtroom program to premiere original episodes solely through a streaming service.

The series offers a refreshed, more contemporary version of Judge Judy, influenced by insights from Sheindlin's Gen Z granddaughter. It features a stenographer to ensure clarity of testimony, unique robe colors, and a modernized courtroom design. Cases tend to be more dramatic, with fewer restrictions on time and larger monetary judgments. Unlike the brisk two-case format of Judge Judy, Judy Justice dedicates each episode to a single extended case, with Sheindlin adopting a softer demeanor.

The departure of longtime bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd generated early criticism from fans. Byrd voiced confusion and disappointment about his exclusion, attributing it to budgetary considerations. Kevin Rasco took over as bailiff for the new series. While Sheindlin acknowledged Byrd’s significant contributions, she stressed the importance of moving in a new creative direction. Byrd later expressed no ill will and wished the show well.

In April 2022, Byrd joined another courtroom program created by Sheindlin called Tribunal Justice, which also features former Hot Bench judges Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango, along with Sheindlin’s son Adam Levy.

Although reruns of Judge Judy outperformed Judy Justice in viewership during its inaugural season, the latter set streaming records on IMDb TV and was renewed for a second season that premiered on November 7, 2022. Sheindlin earned the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program for both shows, making her the only arbitrator to receive this honor for multiple courtroom series.

External media appearances and participation

Sheindlin has appeared in interviews on numerous talk and news shows such as Entertainment Tonight, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Wendy Williams Show, Katie, Larry King Live, The Roseanne Show, The View, Donny & Marie, The Talk, The Tonight Show, Dateline NBC, 20/20, and Good Morning America. On October 17, 1998, she made a surprise guest appearance on Saturday Night Live interrupting a parody of herself. That same year, she appeared as herself in a cameo role in the film CHiPs '99 and served as a judge at the 1999 Miss America pageant.

On February 21, 2000, the documentary Judge Judy: Sitting in Judgment aired as part of the Biography series. She was featured on Shatner's Raw Nerve in 2008 and participated in an extensive two-hour interview for the Archive of American Television in 2009. In May 2012, she launched an advice website called whatwouldjudysay.com. During a 2013 interview with Katie Couric, Sheindlin revealed previously undisclosed details about her personal life and career in family court.

In 2014, Sheindlin established Queen Bee Productions, which produced the arbitration-based reality courtroom show Hot Bench. Initially desiring the title for her own program, she instead developed this show featuring three judges deliberating cases together. Premiering on September 15, 2014, its original panel consisted of Patricia DiMango, Tanya Acker, and Larry Bakman (who was later replaced by Michael Corriero). The show was produced by Randy Douthit and distributed by CBS Television Distribution.

On August 31, 2016, CBS announced plans for a scripted semi-autobiographical drama series inspired by Sheindlin’s life titled Her Honor. The narrative would follow New York’s youngest judge as she manages family court responsibilities alongside personal challenges. Executive producers included Sheindlin herself, former Law & Order writer Chernuchin, Arnold Kopelson, and Anne Kopelson.

In 2017, Sheindlin created the game show iWitness, which challenged contestants’ observational abilities through video clips; it aired for six weeks beginning July 10. On September 17 of that year, she appeared on Fox News' premiere episode of Objectified, hosted by Harvey Levin, providing an inside look at her life.

That year also saw the National Enquirer issue a formal apology for publishing false defamatory statements about Sheindlin’s personal life and health; they also apologized to her daughter Nicole for incorrect claims concerning a prison record.

Sheindlin and her program were featured in a November 26, 2017 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, presiding over a sketch-comedy courtroom case modeled after her real-life show format. In 2018, she appeared as a guest on Netflix’s Norm Macdonald Has a Show.

Non-media initiatives and community involvement

Together with her stepdaughter Nicole Sheindlin, Sheindlin established and leads Her Honor Mentoring, a network dedicated to empowering young women.

In September 2017, Sheindlin sponsored a public debate forum at the University of Southern California aimed at encouraging open dialogue and the free flow of ideas.

Writing and literary contributions

• Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining (1996), Harper Collins
• Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever (1999), Harper Paperbacks
• Keep It Simple, Stupid: You're Smarter Than You Look (2000), Cliff Street Books
• Win or Lose by How You Choose (2000), Harper Collins
• You're Smarter Than You Look: Uncomplicating Relationships in Complicated Times (2001), Harper Paperbacks
• What Would Judy Say? A Grown-Up Guide to Living Together with Benefits (2013), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• What Would Judy Say: Be the Hero of Your Own Story (2014)

Private life

Sheindlin's first marriage was to Ronald Levy in 1964, with whom she had two children: Jamie Hartwright and Adam Levy. Adam previously served as district attorney for Putnam County, New York and appears alongside her on Tribunal Justice. The couple divorced in 1976.

In 1978, she wed Judge Jerry Sheindlin, who later worked as an arbitrator on The People's Court from 1999 to 2001. Following personal difficulties, they divorced in 1990 but remarried a year later in 1991. Jerry's previous marriage brought three stepchildren into her family—Gregory, Jonathan, and Nicole Sheindlin—along with thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Jonathan practices as a retinal surgeon, while Greg and Nicole are attorneys; Nicole collaborated with Judy to establish Her Honor Mentoring.

Sheindlin maintains homes in New York, Florida, California, and Wyoming. For taping Judge Judy, she commuted every two weeks to Los Angeles. In May 2013, she acquired a $10.7 million condominium located in Beverly Hills. In 2018, she and her spouse purchased the Bird House estate in Newport, Rhode Island for $9 million.

Sheindlin has been awarded honorary Doctor of Law degrees from both Elizabethtown College and University at Albany, SUNY. In recognition of her impact on family law, she was appointed vice-president of the law society at University College Dublin in 2013.

Registered as an Independent voter, Sheindlin advocates for same-sex marriage and supports its federal legalization. She also calls for more stringent regulations on gun ownership. While steering clear of strict political labels, she has voted for candidates from various parties but expressed disappointment with the primary contenders during the 2012 election. In October 2019, she publicly endorsed Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign and released a promotional advertisement supporting his bid in January 2020. For the 2024 election cycle, she endorsed Nikki Haley and appeared alongside her at a rally held in New Hampshire.

Lawsuits

In March 2013, Patrice Jones, the estranged spouse of Randy Douthit—who serves as executive producer for Sheindlin's programs Judge Judy and Judy Justice—initiated legal action claiming that Sheindlin colluded with Douthit to acquire fine china and cutlery belonging to Jones without her consent. The lawsuit sought damages amounting to $514,421. The dispute was resolved privately after Sheindlin returned the tableware, and Jones agreed to compensate Douthit with $12,500 and facilitate the return of the items.

On March 12, 2014, Sheindlin filed a lawsuit against Hartford-based personal injury attorney John Haymond and his law firm for unauthorized usage of her television likeness in promotional materials that suggested her endorsement. Despite a warning issued in March 2013, these advertisements persisted. The federal suit demanded over $75,000 in damages, with any awarded funds intended to support college scholarships through the Her Honor Mentoring initiative. In response, Haymond countered with a defamation claim and asserted that local affiliates had solicited his involvement in advertisements endorsing Sheindlin. The matter was settled out of court on August 8, 2014, with terms favoring Sheindlin and including a charitable contribution from Haymond to her foundation.

Further reading

• Jazmine Hughes, "Judge Judy is Still Judging You", The New York Times Magazine, June 20, 2019.

External links

• What Would Judy Say? website
• Judge Judy marks 10 years laying down the law, CTV News, February 15, 2006
• Biographical article from The Guardian, October 9, 2008