After 30 years ruling the daytime television airwaves, Judge Judy Sheindlin is stepping down from the bench at age 83.
Sheindlin, a real-life judge whose no-nonsense courtroom manner transformed her into one of daytime TV’s biggest stars, is preparing to exit the on-camera role she first assumed back in 1996 on syndicated hit “Judge Judy,” and then on Prime Video’s “Judy Justice” since 2021.
Retirement From Television
As Sheindlin explained in an interview with People, she’ll be retiring from her on-camera role as TV judge after the current season of “Judy Justice” ends its run in October.
However, she’s not exactly calling it quits, and plans to remain active on a behind-the-camera basis on other projects in various stages of development.
“I have a lot of other things of interest,” said Sheindlin. “I don’t want to do hair and makeup anymore, but I still want my message to get out there.”
In that vein, she’ll remain busy behind the camera, and has several ongoing projects in the works. Among them is “Judyverse,” an adult animated series she’s developing, based on the viral AI “Baby Judge Judy” videos.
A Behind-the-Scenes Role
GettyAt the moment, however, her main priority is her new role as producer on “Adam’s Law,” an upcoming syndicated courtroom show featuring her son, Adam Levy.
As People points out, “Adam’s Law” premieres on September 14, nearly 30 years to the day that “Judge Judy” first hit the airwaves back in 1996.
The new series will feature Levy ruling on small-claims cases — and she can’t think of anyone more worthy to pass her gavel to.
“There aren’t a lot of people who can carry a half hour on their own unscripted,” she told People. “He has what it takes.”
Levy, a lawyer who’s worked in private practice and as a district attorney, is not a television neophyte, having spent three seasons as one of the TV judges on Prime Video’s “Tribunal Justice.”
“Maybe eight years ago he wasn’t ready,” Sheindlin said of her son and the TV experience he’s gained. “He’s ready now.”
Daytime’s Highest Paid Star
While “Judge Judy” ended in 2021 when Sheindlin jumped to Prime Video with “Judy Justice,” syndicated reruns of vintage episodes continue to be seen on daytime TV.
Over the course of its 25-season run, “Judge Judy” remained daytime television’s biggest success story — and made Sheindlin very wealthy.
At the show’s peak, Sheindlin was earning a staggering $47 million per year for starring in “her own show”Judge Judy” and producing “Hot Bench.”
In 2018, Sheindlin’s savvy insistence at retaining ownership of her own content paid off when she sold her library of “Judge Judy” shows to CBS for $100 million.
She Has Nothing Left to Prove
For Sheindlin, retiring from being an on-camera TV judge on the 30th anniversary that she began seems fitting. Besides, she told People, she has nothing left to accomplish.
“I don’t think that I’ve ever been this content before,” Sheindlin shared. “I don’t have to prove anything else. I did it.”
Prior to the conclusion of “Judy Justice,” fans will have one more chance to say goodbye with “Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable,” a 90-minute retrospective special airing September 22 at 8 pm ET/PT on CBS.
