Judge Judy Sheindlin retires from TV after 30 years as Judy Justice ends and son Adam Levy takes over
A legendary television star has made a surprise announcement about her future after decades as one of the most recognisable faces on screen.
After three decades of delivering blunt verdicts and courtroom takedowns on television, Judge Judy Sheindlin is preparing to step away from the camera.
The 83-year-old television icon has revealed she will retire from on-screen work when her current series, Judy Justice, comes to an end in October.
The move will bring down the curtain on a remarkable television career that began with Judge Judy in 1996 and turned the former prosecutor and family court judge into one of the most recognisable faces on American television.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But Sheindlin appears more than ready to swap the courtroom cameras for a quieter schedule.
“I have a lot of other things of interest,” Sheindlin, 83, told People, listing afternoon naps and spending time with family as her priorities.
“I don’t want to do hair and makeup any more, but I still want my message to get out there.”
While Sheindlin may be leaving the bench on screen, the family business is set to continue.
She is handing the gavel to her 58-year-old son Adam Levy, who will front his own solo courtroom series, Adam’s Law.
Sheindlin will remain involved behind the scenes as a producer on the new show and has thrown her support behind her son’s ability to command a courtroom of his own.
“There aren’t a lot of people who can carry a half hour on their own unscripted. He has what it takes,” she said.
After spending 30 years building one of television’s most successful courtroom careers, Sheindlin also made clear she has little left to prove.
“I don’t have to prove anything else. I did it,” she said.
Long before television fame arrived, Sheindlin worked as a prosecutor before becoming a family court judge.
Her legal career eventually provided the foundation for Judge Judy, which premiered in 1996 and became a daytime television phenomenon.
The series dominated ratings and transformed its sharp-tongued star into one of the highest-paid personalities in television.
By 2007, Sheindlin’s net worth was reported to have reached $US95 million ($A133 million), placing her at number 13 on Forbes’ list of the 20 richest women in entertainment that year.
Her earning power continued to soar.
By 2011, Sheindlin was reportedly earning $US47 million ($A66 million) a year, before topping the rankings as television’s highest-paid host in 2018.
Her success also translated into industry recognition, with Sheindlin becoming a four-time Emmy winner during her decades on screen.
In 2020, she announced Judge Judy would end after 25 seasons, closing the chapter on the program that had made her a household name.
She did not stay away from the courtroom for long, returning with Judy Justice, which continued her trademark no-nonsense approach for another five years.
Now, with Judy Justice set to finish in October, Sheindlin is preparing to finally leave on-camera courtroom television behind while passing the gavel to the next generation.
