Courtroom Dynasty Continues
Judge Judy Sheindlin Retires After Three Decades While Her Son Launches a New Court Show
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Key Points
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Sheindlin said, “I don’t want to do hair and makeup anymore, but I still want my message to get out there,” offering a more specific explanation for her retirement than her broader plans to pursue other interests.
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The original Judge Judy series was broadcast internationally in roughly 150 countries and won three Daytime Emmy Awards; Sheindlin also won an Emmy for Judy Justice.
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Adam Levy previously served two terms as district attorney in Putnam County, New York and worked in private practice before moving into courtroom television; he also appeared on Tribunal Justice.
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Sheindlin said Levy was not ready to lead a show alone several years ago but now is: “Maybe eight years ago he wasn’t ready. He’s ready now.” Levy has also recalled that his mother encouraged his independence by telling him, “If you want baseball cards, don’t ask me for money.”
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CBS’s tribute is titled “Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable,” a 90-minute primetime special scheduled for September 22 to mark her 30 years as a television judge.
Judge Judy Sheindlin, 83, is stepping away from on-camera television after her show Judy Justice wraps its fourth season in October. Her three-decade career began with the original Judge Judy in 1996, which aired in roughly 150 countries and won three Daytime Emmy Awards. "I don't want to do hair and makeup anymore, but I still want my message to get out there," Sheindlin said of her decision.
Sheindlin will stay active behind the scenes as executive producer of Adam's Law, a new syndicated small-claims show starring her son, Adam Levy, which premieres September 14. She's also developing Judyverse, an adult animated project inspired by viral "Baby Judge Judy" videos. A CBS tribute special, "Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable," airs September 22.
From Skeptic to Ready: Adam Levy's Path
Adam Levy spent years as a district attorney in Putnam County, New York, before trying his hand in television. He worked in private practice and appeared on Tribunal Justice, another courtroom show. Sheindlin said he wasn't ready to lead alone years ago but has matured into the role. "Maybe eight years ago he wasn't ready. He's ready now," she said.
Sheindlin pushed her son toward independence early on. When young Adam asked for money to buy baseball cards, she refused. "If you want baseball cards, don't ask me for money," she told him. That approach shaped his work ethic and his readiness to carry forward the family's television courtroom legacy.
Judge Judy's Emmy-Winning Run Across Three Decades
The original Judge Judy launched in 1996 and became a global juggernaut. The show broadcast internationally in roughly 150 countries and collected three Daytime Emmy Awards. Sheindlin also won an Emmy for Judy Justice, her follow-up series on Amazon Prime Video that launched in 2021.
Judy Justice ran for four seasons before Sheindlin decided to step down from on-camera work. The show earned two Daytime Emmy Awards during its run, cementing her track record of award-winning television. Her 30-year reign on screens made her one of the most recognizable judges in television history.
Life After the Bench: Naps and New Projects
Sheindlin said retirement will let her pursue interests beyond courtroom television. She wants to take afternoon naps, spend more time with family, and develop Judyverse, an adult animated series. The project sprang from viral "Baby Judge Judy" videos that caught her attention online.
Her behind-the-scenes role on Adam's Law means Sheindlin isn't completely disappearing. She plans to guide her son's show as an executive producer while staying connected to the judicial television world she built. A CBS tribute special will air September 22 to celebrate her three decades on air.
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