Judge Judy has been a daytime TV staple since 1996. Many people from a certain generation may have experienced her stern judgments while being sick and staying home from school. The original courtroom reality show with Judge Judy B. Sheindlin would run well into the 21st century and end in 2021 with reruns going strong on platforms like PlutoTV. However, Sheindlin would migrate over to Prime Video for a new run with the series Judy Justice.
Deadline is now reporting that Judge Judy has now announced her retirement from our television screens. Sheindlin appeared on Good Morning America with her son, Adam Levy, who is a lawyer and now presides as a judge for his own TV program, Adam’s Law. Sheindlin stated, “I’m retiring from in front of the camera.” When she was asked why she has decided to step away, Sheindlin referred to her son, “First of all, he was ready.” She continued, “And, you know. I’ve aged pretty well over the years, reasonably – I look better than my grandmother did at my age, which didn’t take a lot – but it’s time for me to…take the message and put it in a little bit of a different form.”
Sheindlin said that she would still be active behind-the-scenes, which includes executive producing on her son’s show. Adam’s Law had recently premiered a couple of days ago through CBS Media Ventures. Meanwhile, Judy Justice will soon be wrapping up its run and is expected to air its final episode on October 22.
However, before leaving our screens, a 90-minute 30-year anniversary special called Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable is set to air on Tuesday, September 22 (8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) on CBS, as well as stream live on Paramount+.
Judge Judy followed in the footsteps of similar courtroom reality TV shows, such as The People’s Court, which were syndicated as afternoon programming. It became one of the most-watched and longest-running programs in courtroom television history with Sheindlin’s signature humor and authority. The show features Sheindlin adjudicating real-life small-claims disputes in a simulated courtroom. Participants sign binding arbitration contracts beforehand, agreeing to abide by her final rulings.