Who Is Judge Judy's Husband, Jerry Sheindlin?
They've been married for 40 years.
getty Everyone loves Judge Judy for her no-nonsense attitude and witty logic, often used against people who should probably go back to school before appearing in front of a judge such as she. Her television show, Judge Judy, has been on the air for over 20 years and has produced just over 6,000 episodes! How’s that for justice?
But behind the woman who has been dubbed one of the harshest judges, her life is pretty normal, and the people who love her can attest that she’s not the same person she is on television. Such is the case for her husband, Jerry Sheindlin, who is no stranger to life on and off television as a judge.
But just who is who is Judge Judy's husband? Here are 10 things to know about him, as well as their life together.
1. Who is Judge Judy's husband, Jerry Sheindlin? He served in the Navy.
Sheindlin grew up as a street kid from the Bronx and joined the Navy in 1951 during the Korean War. While serving in the Navy, he turned his life around and eventually attended Long Island University, completing his studies in only 2 ½ years.
2. He’s a judge, too.
Sheindlin went to Brooklyn Law School and received his J.D. in 1959. After school, he became a partner in Adlerberg & Sheindlin for 22 years, serving as a defense attorney. In 1980, he was a United States Administrative Law Judge for two years, and was then appointed as a New York City Criminal Court Judge by then-Mayor Ed Koch. Sheindlin also served on the New York State Supreme Court.
3. He had his own television show.
Though he was a judge on the television show The People’s Court for just two years, his attitude on screen differed greatly from that of his wife, leading people to refer to him as “Judge Judy’s husband.” His demeanor was more straightforward and he displayed some humor. He was on the show from 1999-2001.
4. He’s an author.
He’s the author of two books: Genetic Fingerprinting: The Law and Science of DNA Evidence, and Blood Trail. But during his time serving on the bench, he was the author of 64 published opinions, including a 46-page opinion on the admission of DNA forensic evidence in a murder case.
5. He’s been a judge for high-profile cases.
His most notable case was the 1996 hearing and acquittal of Officer Francis Livoti, who was on trial for the death of Anthony Baez, after Baez was subdued, lost consciousness, and was taken to a hospital, where he died of asphyxiation.
6. They met in a bar.
According to Sheindlin, “I just finished trying a murder case as a defense lawyer. She was a prosecutor. There was a reporter from the New York Post there at the bar, and I was speaking to him about the case. Judy came walking in and put her finger in my face and said, ‘And who is this?’ I said, ‘Lady, get your finger out of my face.’ We've been together ever since.”
7. They divorced and got back together.
The couple married in 1977 and briefly divorced for a year in 1990. The divorce came shortly after Judy lost her father, but they eventually reconciled.
“I missed him, I missed him and I really found out — this is not to denigrate your species — actually, most men are alike... I just had to come to terms with the fact that men of that generation are different. They expect, even if they have no right, they expect to be taken care of or catered to,” she said.
8. They have 5 children between them.
Though they have no biological children together, Jerry has three children with his ex-wife — Gregory, Jonathan and Nicole — while Judy has two children with her ex-husband — Jamie and Adam. They also have 13 grandchildren.
9. They just bought a home.
In 2018, the couple bought a $9 million home in Newport, Rhode Island. The home is a 9,700-square-foot property on 3.67 acres of land in Newport, Rhode Island that was previously owned by Dorrance Hill Hamilton, an heiress to the Campbell Soup fortune.
10. They may be on the rocks again.
Photo: Getty
Judge Judy was just renewed through the 2020-2021 season, meaning she’ll be spending more time away from her husband. According to sources, “Jerry turns 84 this fall, and frankly, he can’t keep up with Judy’s whirlwind life. It’s like Judy is a high-speed train and Jerry’s been left at the station. Judy is a force of nature in her career.”
11. Judge Judy is coming to an end at 25 years.
"I've had a 25-year-long marriage with CBS, and it's been successful. Next year will be our 25th season, silver anniversary," 77-year-old Sheindlin said in a clip from the upcoming episode. She made the departure announcement on Ellen saying, "I’m not tired. So Judy Justice will be coming out the year later.” You can watch the whole clip above, in which she also reveals the hysterical gift she got her husband for his 85th birthday.
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.