![Judge Judy](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/judge-judy-5-things-to-know-warner-bros-ftr.jpg?fit=620%2C349)
Judge Judy is an icon! See photos of the beloved TV star here.
Judith Susan Sheindlin has presided over the daily syndicated courtroom reality series ‘Judge Judy; for over 22 years, making it the longest running courtroom-themed programming in tv history. She earned her Juris Doctorate at New York Law School in 1965 and passed the bar the same year. She went on to become a prosecutor in New York’s family courts division. Her tough, no-nonsense courtroom style made then-Mayor Ed Koch elevate her to the position of criminal court judge in 1982. In 1993 she was featured in a ’60 Minutes’ profile that got her national attention and authored the book Don’t Pee on ‘My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining.’ Upon retiring in 1996 she was approached to do a syndicated court show with ‘real cases with real rulings.’ The ‘Judge Judy’ show premiered in 1996 and is still going strong 23 seasons later. On April 22, 2019, she freaked out viewers when she debuted her first ever hairstyle change, pulling her neatly coiffed short bob into a ponytail.
Judge Judy On ‘Ellen’
![Judge Judy On ‘Ellen’](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-5-things-to-know-warner-bros-gal.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy In 1996
![Judge Judy In 1996](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-photos-1.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy
![Judge Judy](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery9.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy
![Judge Judy](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery8.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
![Judge Judy On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery7.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy On ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’
![Judge Judy On ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery6.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy At Afternoon Tea
![Judge Judy At Afternoon Tea](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery5.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy At Forbes Women’s Summit
![Judge Judy At Forbes Women’s Summit](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery4.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy In Los Angeles
![Judge Judy In Los Angeles](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery3.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy With Husband Jerry
![Judge Judy With Husband Jerry](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-gallery2.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy In New York
![Judge Judy In New York](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-photos-2.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy At The Tribeca Film Festival
![Judge Judy At The Tribeca Film Festival](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-photos-3.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy At The Oxford Union
![Judge Judy At The Oxford Union](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-photos-4.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy Out At Craig’s
![Judge Judy Out At Craig’s](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-photos-5.jpg?w=680)
Judge Judy With Melissa McCarthy
![Judge Judy With Melissa McCarthy](http://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/judge-judy-photos-6.jpg?w=680)