The Ultimate Judge Judy Deep Dive

Hailed as the most famous judge on TV (and quite possibly, of all time), Judge Judith Sheindlin is a staple of American television. Judge Judy made for a groundbreaking debut in 1990, as it was the first of its kind to give a woman a courtroom show in a prime daytime slot.

Sheindlin's success at the time was unprecedented, as her syndicated court show, Judge Judy, has amassed a cult following and a reputation for excellence, garnering her a spot on the list of The 50 Greatest TV Icons.



The television judge is known for her stern, outspoken demeanor, and colorful sartorial choices, but her courtroom demeanor is often misunderstood as she doesn't give anyone a free pass. She's often harsh with people who are disrespectful or simply too slow in their explanations.

Life Before Stardom

With many daytime television hosts touting bogus qualifications, it's not irrational to wonder whether Judge Judy is a real arbitrator at all. Shiendlin passed the BAR in 1965, giving her the necessary credentials and career longevity to make fair and accurate rulings.

Judge Judy has been married three times to two husbands, bearing two children by her first, Ronald Levy. The couple divorced after 13 years and she later married her second husband, Judge Jerry Sheindlin, who briefly worked as an arbitrator on The People's Court. The pair initially split, though remarried a year later in 1991.

Supporting Acts

Every court justice needs a sidekick, and Judge Judy found that in Baliff Petri Adonis Byrd for the entire series run of 25 seasons making him the longest-serving television court show bailiff in history. Byrd added "Hawkins" to his name when he joined the Judge Judy program as a salute to his late mother's maiden name.

Byrd was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. After developing an interest in law, he met Judge Judy as she served as Supervising Family Court Judge for Manhattan in the 80s.

In a congratulatory letter for her first of seven book titles Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me it's Raining, he stated, "If you ever need a bailiff, my uniform still fits." After Sheindlin was feeling a lack of chemistry with the test actor who performed as bailiff in her pilot episode, she phoned Byrd to offer him the role, which he accepted.

Real Rulings

Officially a retired judge, Sheindlin serves as an arbitrator for civil disputes that do not require an official court ruling. Unlike in a typical court of law, both parties have their travel expenses and fees covered by production.

In a typical small claims court, judges hear both sides in full to determine the salient points of a dispute. Judge Judy riffs off the contents of a brief complaint and uses the shooting time to fire questions, cutting off and controlling the testimony for the amusement of viewers.

Recent Years

In March of 2011, Sheindlin was admitted to the hospital after fainting on set while handling a case. She was released the next day, and it was later revealed that she suffered a small stroke.

Quite the taskmaster, she also knows how to be a mentor to those who are willing to learn. A long-time advocate of same-sex marriage rights, Sheindlin's message of equality and justice has made her a voice for many marginalized communities. Her staunch advocacy has propelled her to be an outspoken critic of domestic violence, co-founding the charity Her Honor Mentoring with her stepdaughter Nicole.

Realistically, it wasn't her philanthropic efforts but her larger-than-life ratings that earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Judge Judy often surpassed The Oprah Winfrey Show. So far is her reach that her likeness was parodied in simulation game BitLife's "Judy the Judge" challenge.

This sudden promo may have been due to the 2021 premiere of spin-off Judy Justice, which is geared toward a younger audience than those who were raised on the original series. In it, Judith stars alongside her grand-daughter Sarah Rose Sheindlin

Now amassing a net worth of over 450 million, the television judge owns real estate properties in five different states. Years of hard work have cemented Judge Judy as a household name and cultural icon.

Where to Watch Judge Judy:

Judge Judy is available to watch for free on PlutoTV.

Judy Justice is available to watch for free on Amazon Freevee.