Judith Sheindlin
TV Judge
About This Interview
In her Archive interview, Judge Judith Sheindlin discusses in detail her transition from being a New York Family Court judge (where she was known as "America's toughest judge") to becoming a phenomenal television success as "Judge Judy." She chronicles her rise to notoriety, which peaked when she was featured on 60 Minutes. From that appearance, she soon was offered the opportunity to bring her "no excuses" judicial philosophy to the small screen. Judge Sheindlin talks about Judge Judy's flawed pilot and how the show found its footing early-on. She also discusses her courtroom demeanor (including her famous "Judy-isms") and talks about the production details of the show. Judge Judith Sheindlin was interviewed in Beverly Hills, CA on December 1, 2009; Stephen J. Abramson conducted the two-hour interview.
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Watch By Chapter
- Chapter 1
- On her early childhood, her parents, and influences
- On her earliest memory of television: watching Milton Berle (and later meeting him)
- On learning comedic timing from her father and others growing up; ambitions to become famous; on realizing the power of humor
- On her education; attending New York Law school in the 1960s; professional goals
- On her belief in right and wrong and how to apply flexibility in law, within parameters; unacceptable behavior in her opinion; finding her mission
- On what she brings to the bench as a Judge; her reputation as a tough judge and her view of the role of the criminal justice system
- On her trademark lace collar
- On her appearance on 60 Minutes; how she agreed to be on the show which filmed her outspoken courtroom demeanor
- On the experience of being on television; writing books
- On what led to the show Judge Judy; her opinion on televising the courtroom
- On the original title for Judge Judy; on her input on the show and what she learned about the television business
- Chapter 2
- On making the transition from a real courtroom to a television courtroom
