Name: Judith Susan Sheindlin (née Blum), commonly known as Judge Judy.

Introduction: Judy Sheindlin is a highly recognized American court-show arbitrator, television producer, and former prosecutor and Manhattan family court judge. She is best known for her popular syndicated reality courtroom show, Judge Judy, which aired from 1996 to 2021, and her current show, Judy Justice.

Date of Birth: October 21, 1942

Height: Information not readily available in provided sources.

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Family:

• Parents: Murray Blum (father, a dentist) and Ethel Blum (mother, an office manager).
• Spouse(s):
  • Ronald Levy (married 1964, divorced 1976)
  • Jerry Sheindlin (married 1977, divorced 1990, remarried 1991, still married)
• Children: Judy Sheindlin has two biological children with Ronald Levy and three stepchildren from Jerry Sheindlin’s previous marriage, making a total of five children.
  • Jamie Hartwright (daughter, with Ronald Levy)
  • Adam Levy (son, with Ronald Levy, a former district attorney)
  • Gregory Sheindlin (stepson, with Jerry Sheindlin)
  • Jonathan Sheindlin (stepson, with Jerry Sheindlin, a retinal surgeon)
  • Nicole Sheindlin (stepdaughter, with Jerry Sheindlin, a lawyer and co-creator of Her Honor Mentoring program)
• Grandchildren: She has 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Profession: Lawyer, judge, television personality, author, court-show arbitrator, and television producer.

Nationality: American

Religion: Jewish (of German-Jewish and Russian-Jewish descent).

College or University Attended:

• American University, Washington, D.C. (Bachelor of Arts in Government)
• New York Law School (Juris Doctor, 1965)

Biography and What Famous For:
Judy Sheindlin was born Judith Susan Blum in Brooklyn, New York, in 1942. She graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn, then earned her undergraduate degree from American University and her law degree from New York Law School in 1965. She passed the New York state bar exam the same year and began her career as a corporate lawyer.

After two years, she left her corporate law job to focus on raising her children. In 1972, she joined the New York family court system as a prosecuting attorney, working on cases involving children and families. Her no-nonsense and direct approach quickly gained attention. In 1982, New York City Mayor Ed Koch appointed her as a judge in the Bronx family court. Four years later, she was promoted to supervising judge in the Manhattan family court, a position she held for a decade. During this time, she earned a reputation as a tough and efficient judge, earning the moniker “America’s toughest judge.”

Her notoriety grew, leading to a profile in the Los Angeles Times in 1993, which then led to a feature on CBS’s 60 Minutes. This national exposure opened doors to television. She retired as a family court judge in 1996 after hearing over 20,000 cases. That same year, she launched her own courtroom show, Judge Judy, where she served as the arbitrator for small-claims disputes.

Judge Judy quickly became a massive success, known for Sheindlin’s sharp wit, biting remarks, and no-excuses judicial philosophy. The show aired for 25 seasons, from 1996 to 2021, becoming the highest-rated courtroom program in the United States and often outperforming The Oprah Winfrey Show in ratings. She became the longest-serving television arbitrator in courtroom-themed programming history, earning a spot in the Guinness World Records in 2015. Her annual earnings from the show reportedly reached $47 million, making her one of the highest-paid people on television.

Beyond television, Sheindlin has authored several books, including Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining (1996) and Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever (1999). In 2021, following the conclusion of Judge Judy, she premiered a new court show, Judy Justice, on IMDb TV (now Amazon Freevee).

Have participated:

• Judge Judy (1996–2021) – Arbitrator and star
• Judy Justice (2021–present) – Arbitrator and star
• 60 Minutes (featured segment)
• Authored several books, including:
  • Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining (1996)
  • Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever (1999)
  • Keep It Simple, Stupid: You’re Smarter Than You Look (2000)
  • Win or Lose by How You Choose (2000)
  • You’re Smarter Than You Look: Uncomplicating Relationships in Complicated Times (2001)
• Launched the website whatwouldjudysay.com (2012)
• Received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy Awards (2019)
• Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2006)
• Inducted into Broadcasting & Cable’s Hall of Fame (2012)
• Won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program for both Judge Judy and Judy Justice.