Judge Judy Sheindlin

Early Life and Education

Judith Susan Blum was born on October 21, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to Murray and Ethel Blum. She graduated from James Madison High School in 1960. Sheindlin attended American University in Washington, D. C., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government in 1963. She then attended New York Law School, where she was the only woman in her graduating class, earning her Juris Doctor degree in 1965. Sheindlin passed the New York bar exam that same year.

Legal Career

Sheindlin began her legal career as a corporate lawyer for a cosmetics firm. After two years, she left to raise her children. In 1972, she joined the New York family court system as a prosecutor, handling cases involving child abuse, domestic violence, and juvenile offenders. Her tough demeanor in the courtroom earned her a reputation as a tough but fair judge.

In 1982, Mayor Ed Koch appointed Sheindlin as a criminal court judge in the Bronx branch of the family court. She was promoted to supervising judge in the family court's Manhattan division in 1986. Sheindlin retired as a family court judge in 1996.

Television Career

Sheindlin's no-nonsense approach to family court drew media attention. In 1993, she was profiled in the Los Angeles Times and featured in a segment on CBS's 60 Minutes. These appearances led to her being offered her own courtroom program.

Judge Judy premiered in 1996 and quickly became a ratings success, becoming the highest-rated daytime television program for several years. The show, known for Sheindlin's sharp wit and no-nonsense demeanor, ran for 25 seasons. In 2018, her salary for Judge Judy reached $47 million per year, making her the highest-paid TV star in Hollywood.

After Judge Judy ended in 2021, Sheindlin returned to television with Judy Justice, another arbitration-based court show. The show, which features Sheindlin adjudicating real-life cases, is available for streaming on Amazon Freevee. Judy Justice was renewed for a fourth season and began airing in syndication on local TV stations in 2024. New episodes of Judy Justice will be available on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Freevee starting August 5, 2024.

Personal Life

Sheindlin has been married twice. She married her first husband, Ronald Levy, in 1964. They had two children together before divorcing in 1976. Sheindlin married her second husband, Gerald Sheindlin, a lawyer who later became a judge of New York state's Supreme Court, in 1977. They divorced in 1990 but remarried in 1991. Sheindlin has five children two biological, three stepchildren and thirteen grandchildren between her two marriages. Her granddaughter, Sarah Rose, graduated from law school in May 2023.

Other Notable Facts and Recent Events

Sheindlin has published several books, including Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining 1996. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2019. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony in 2019.

In May 2024, Sheindlin listed her Manhattan duplex for sale. That same month, she made headlines for her comments about Generation Z, stating that they are difficult to work with because they received too many trophies growing up.

Sheindlin also drew attention for her comments about the legal cases against former President Donald Trump. In June 2024, she called the Manhattan district attorney's hush money case against Trump nonsense.Sheindlin's remarks sparked criticism from Trump's detractors.

Also in May 2024, Sheindlin sued the parent company of InTouch Weekly and the National Enquirer for defamation, alleging that the publications printed false stories about her.

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