Judge Judy.Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty
Here, on her 81st birthday, take a look at Judge Judy’s career in photos.
01of 16Who Am I to Judge?Bob Riha, Jr./GettyIn 1993, following a profile inTheLos Angeles Times, Sheindlin was featured on60 Minutes.The recognition led to new opportunities, so she retired from family court after 25 years.In 1996, she published her first of seven books,Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining.
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Who Am I to Judge?
Bob Riha, Jr./Getty
In 1993, following a profile inTheLos Angeles Times, Sheindlin was featured on60 Minutes.The recognition led to new opportunities, so she retired from family court after 25 years.
In 1996, she published her first of seven books,Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining.
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That’s Judge Judy to You
Judge Judy.Sonja Flemming/CBS/Getty
Sheindlintold PEOPLEin October 2021, “I was hoping we would have a three- or four-year run and that my husband and I would be able to afford a two-bedroom apartment one block off the beach in Florida as a retirement place. We were civil servants. We had five kids that were all educated, most went to graduate school. We tried to see to it they weren’t burdened with a lot of debt.”
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All Rise!
Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The show became the highest-rated courtroom program in the United States, averaging roughly 9 million viewers a day.
04of 16The Whole Suit and Nothing But the SuitBrad Barket /GettyHer judgement skills clearly serve her well in other areas of her life. For example, she is amazing at choosing colorful suits! We submit into evidence this photo of her in a bright orange set in 2007.
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The Whole Suit and Nothing But the Suit
Brad Barket /Getty
Her judgement skills clearly serve her well in other areas of her life. For example, she is amazing at choosing colorful suits! We submit into evidence this photo of her in a bright orange set in 2007.
05of 16The Right to Remain FashionableRaymond Hall/FilmMagicAnd this pink ensemble that makes you want to scream, “I find the defendant guilty of dressing to kill.” I rest my case!
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The Right to Remain Fashionable
Raymond Hall/FilmMagic
And this pink ensemble that makes you want to scream, “I find the defendant guilty of dressing to kill.” I rest my case!
06of 16Swept Off Her FeetNBCUniversal via GettyIn April 1999, Jay Leno gave Judge Judy a lift when she visitedThe Tonight Show.
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Swept Off Her Feet
NBCUniversal via Getty
In April 1999, Jay Leno gave Judge Judy a lift when she visitedThe Tonight Show.
07of 16A PEOPLE PersonNBC/NBCU Photo Bank/gettyYou have the right to remain … on the cover of PEOPLE! In October 1999, Judge Judy showed off her cover (which included an iconic photo of her in a red one-piece bathing suit) onThe Tonight Show.She graces the cover of PEOPLEagain this week.
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A PEOPLE Person
NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/getty
You have the right to remain … on the cover of PEOPLE! In October 1999, Judge Judy showed off her cover (which included an iconic photo of her in a red one-piece bathing suit) onThe Tonight Show.She graces the cover of PEOPLEagain this week.
08of 16Setting RecordsFrazer Harrison/GettyIn 2014, the judge was sentenced to a lifetime of being honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was given her Hollywood Star.The following year, Sheindlin earned a place in theGuinness World Recordsbooks when she became the longest-serving judge or arbiter in courtroom-themed programming history.
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Setting Records
Frazer Harrison/Getty
In 2014, the judge was sentenced to a lifetime of being honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was given her Hollywood Star.
The following year, Sheindlin earned a place in theGuinness World Recordsbooks when she became the longest-serving judge or arbiter in courtroom-themed programming history.
09of 16Famous FriendsThe popular judge has had plenty of famous pals through the years. At right, Sheindlin holds hands with Barbara Walters at the 2008 DaytimeEmmy Awards.
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Famous Friends
The popular judge has had plenty of famous pals through the years. At right, Sheindlin holds hands with Barbara Walters at the 2008 DaytimeEmmy Awards.
10of 16Girls Just Wanna Have FunBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via GettyIn 2009, she got a hug from Cyndi Lauper at the Komen New York City Race For the Cure.
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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty
In 2009, she got a hug from Cyndi Lauper at the Komen New York City Race For the Cure.
11of 16Good PalsJason Merritt/GettyIn January 2019, Samuel L. Jacksontold Ellen DeGeneresthat friend Sheindlin was the life of the party at his 70th birthday celebration.
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Good Pals
Jason Merritt/Getty
In January 2019, Samuel L. Jacksontold Ellen DeGeneresthat friend Sheindlin was the life of the party at his 70th birthday celebration.
12of 16Friends in High PlacesBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via GettyBut perhaps her most impressive acquaintance is none other than former PresidentBarack Obama, whom she greeted like this in 2014 while Jackson looked on.
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Friends in High Places
But perhaps her most impressive acquaintance is none other than former PresidentBarack Obama, whom she greeted like this in 2014 while Jackson looked on.
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SMXRF/Star Max/GC Images
This is the face of a woman who, in 2017, soldJudge Judy’s 5,200-episode library, as well as rights to future episodes of the syndicated program,to CBS for an estimated $100 million.
In March 2020, she announced that the show would beending its 25-year run.
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A Lifetime of Achievement
Gregg DeGuire/Getty
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Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon
David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty.
In May 2021, Sheindlin toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat she’s “not tired” at all — and doesn’t see a reason to slow down.
“I don’t play golf or tennis. I have no desire to learn how to play mahjong, chess or checkers. I know what I like to do,” she said. “Why, at my stage in life, would I try to find something else when I already know what I like?”
That’s proof enough for us! Court dismissed.
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Jeffery Salter/Redux
source: people.com
