Judy Sheindlin

Judith Susan Sheindlin (née Blum; born October 21, 1942), known professionally as Judge Judy, is an American television personality, author, and retired judge who served in New York City's family court system before presiding over the long-running arbitration-based reality court show Judge Judy from 1996 to 2021. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from American University in 1963 and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1965, then began her legal career in corporate law before transitioning to prosecution in family court in 1972, where she handled cases involving child abuse and domestic violence.

Appointed a family court judge in Manhattan by Mayor Ed Koch in 1982, Sheindlin advanced to supervising judge in 1986, overseeing thousands of cases with a reputation for direct, no-nonsense adjudication until her retirement in 1996. Her judicial profile in a 1993 Los Angeles Times article led to the creation of Judge Judy, which aired for 25 seasons and became the highest-rated court show in syndication history, consistently drawing over 10 million daily viewers and surpassing competitors like The Oprah Winfrey Show in ratings during its peak.

Sheindlin's family background was rooted in Jewish heritage, with ancestral ties primarily to German and Russian Jewish communities. She has recalled a close relationship with her father, whom she described as "the greatest human being" for instilling values of hard work and integrity during her formative years. Limited public details exist regarding specific childhood experiences beyond this family dynamic, though Sheindlin has noted the influence of her parents' professional ethic in shaping her early worldview.

Judy Sheindlin was born Judith Susan Blum on October 21, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to Murray Blum, a dentist, and Ethel Silverman Blum, both of German and Russian Jewish descent. She has one brother, David Blum.