Sheindlin

Judith Susan Sheindlin, known professionally as Judge Judy, is an American lawyer, former prosecutor, and television personality. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she built a career in law and served as a judge in the New York City Family Court system, where she developed a reputation for direct, efficient adjudication.

Sheindlin rose to prominence with the arbitration-based courtroom program Judge Judy, which began in first-run syndication in 1996. The show presented small-claims disputes resolved by binding arbitration, with Sheindlin issuing concise rulings. It became one of the longest-running and most recognizable court shows, contributing to the popularity of reality-based courtroom programming. The program concluded production in 2021 after a lengthy run.

In 2021 Sheindlin launched Judy Justice, a streaming courtroom series on Amazon Freevee, continuing her signature format with a new production team and set. She is the founder of Queen Bee Productions, through which she has produced Judge Judy-related content and other television projects. Beyond television, Sheindlin is involved in charitable activities and remains a prominent figure in discussions about access to justice and media representations of the legal system.