History of Judge Judy in Timeline
Judge Judy is an American arbitration-based reality court show hosted by Judith Sheindlin, a former Manhattan Family Court Judge. The program involves Sheindlin adjudicating real small-claims disputes in a simulated courtroom setting. Participants sign arbitration contracts, agreeing to abide by her rulings. Originally airing in first-run syndication, the show is now distributed by CBS Media Ventures in reruns, maintaining significant popularity and high ratings.
October 21, 1942: Judge Judy Sheindlin's Birth
On October 21, 1942, Judge Judy Sheindlin was born in Brooklyn, New York, to German-Jewish parents Murray and Ethel Blum.
November 29, 1957: Petri Adonis Byrd's Birth
On November 29, 1957, Petri Adonis Byrd was born in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
1981: Premiere of The People's Court
In 1981, The People's Court premiered, with Joseph Wapner as the judge.
February 1993: Los Angeles Times Article
In February 1993, a Los Angeles Times article highlighted Sheindlin's reputation, catching the attention of 60 Minutes.
May 21, 1993: Offer to Produce The People's Court
On May 21, 1993, after Joseph Wapner's departure from The People's Court, Sheindlin offered to take his place but was rejected by the show's receptionist.
October 24, 1993: 60 Minutes Segment Airs
On October 24, 1993, 60 Minutes aired a segment on Sheindlin, bringing her national recognition.
1993: Josh Getlin Article
In 1993, Josh Getlin published an article on Sheindlin in the Los Angeles Times that catapulted her television career.
1993: Cancellation of The People's Court
In 1993, The People's Court's first 12-season incarnation was canceled due to low ratings. This was before Judge Judy revitalized the court show genre.
1993: 60 Minutes Special Clips
On May 20, 2014, CBS aired a one-hour special called Judge Judy Primetime, which included reshown clips from the 1993 60 Minutes Special on Sheindlin.
1994: Premiere and Cancellation of Jones & Jury
In 1994, Jones & Jury premiered but only lasted the 1994–95 season due to low ratings, preceding Judge Judy's impact on courtroom television.
March 1995: Talent Scouts Approach
In March 1995, talent scouts asked Sheindlin to preside over her own courtroom series, which she eventually accepted.
1995: Contract agreement signed
In 1995, CBS and Rebel signed a contract agreement that outlined CBS would compensate Rebel 5% of gross proceeds from Judge Judy for the duration of its series run, but minus production expenses.
February 7, 1996: Book Publication
On February 7, 1996, Sheindlin's first book, Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining, was published.
September 1996: Judge Judy Launches
In September 1996, Judge Judy launched with little media attention, averaging a 1.5 rating by the end of October.
September 16, 1996: Series Premiere
On September 16, 1996, Judge Judy premiered on television.
1996: Season 1 Presentation
In 1996, Season 1 of Judge Judy featured a different courtroom set, stage props, and theme music compared to later seasons.
1997: Court Programming Increased
In 1997, daytime television began featuring more court programming, such as a revival of The People's Court, due in part to the early success of Judge Judy.
1998: 1996-1998
During 1996-1998 Judge Judy launched and went on air with little media attention.
1998: CHiPs '99 appearance
In 1998, Judge Judy Sheindlin appeared as herself, presiding judge on her Judge Judy courtroom program in the American made-for-television crime drama film, CHiPs '99, where a case was brought before her involving Officer Francis and Captain Jonathan Baker.
1998: Highest-Rated Daytime Program
In 1998, during its 3rd season, Judge Judy became the highest-rated program in daytime television, surpassing The Jerry Springer Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
1999: Post-1999 Divorce Court
Divorce Court, in its pre-1999 form, was scripted via court transcripts of past proceedings.
1999: Ratings Peak
During its 4th season, in 1999, Judge Judy's ratings exploded, peaking at a 9.3 rating, making it the highest-rated program in daytime.
1999: Jerry Sheindlin Joins The People's Court
In 1999, Jerry Sheindlin, Judge Judy's husband, replaced Ed Koch as the presiding judge on The People's Court.
1999: Judge Judy moved to Paramount Domestic Television
In 1999, Judge Judy moved from Worldvision Enterprises to Paramount Domestic Television, which also distributed Judge Joe Brown and eventually Judge Mills Lane.
1999: Salary Negotiations Begin
Starting in 1999, Judge Judy Sheindlin began submitting her salary demands in a sealed envelope to CBS management during contract renewals, indicating they were non-negotiable.
February 21, 2000: "Judge Judy: Sitting in Judgment" documentary aired
On February 21, 2000, Biography's documentary film on Sheindlin, "Judge Judy: Sitting in Judgment" aired.
2000: Ratings Peak
During its 4th season, in 2000, Judge Judy's ratings exploded, peaking at a 9.3 rating, making it the highest-rated program in daytime.
2000: 1999-2000 surpassed Oprah
In 2000, During the 2000-01 television season Judge Judy also surpassed The Oprah Winfrey Show in daytime TV ratings
2000: Annual Salary Reported
In early 2000, during the show's 4th season, Sheindlin's annual salary from Judge Judy was reported as $7.8 million.
2000: Jerry Sheindlin's time at The People's Court comes to an end
Midway through The People's Court's 4th season, Jerry Sheindlin was replaced by Marilyn Milian.
2000: Previous lawsuits filed by Switzer and Spreckman
Since the year 2000, Kaye Switzer and Sandi Spreckman have a long history of filing lawsuits against Judith Sheindlin and CBS over the same matter.
2001: Continued Success
In 2001, during its 5th season, Judge Judy's streak of growing ratings since its debut ceased, though it remained the highest-rated daytime program with a 5.6 rating.
2001: Allegations of Douthit's behavior surface
Starting in 2001 and throughout the remainder of the show's run, allegations arose from former Judge Judy staff regarding Randy Douthit's frequent sexual harassment of employees and his derogatory remarks about female litigants.
November 26, 2002: Wapner Criticizes Judge Judy's Courtroom Behavior
On November 26, 2002, Joseph Wapner criticized Judge Judy's courtroom behavior, stating that she is discourteous and insulting, not portraying a judge as he viewed one should act.
2002: Ratings Slip
In 2002, during its 6th season, Judge Judy was no longer the highest-rated program in daytime, beaten out by The Oprah Winfrey Show, averaging a 5.0 rating.
January 2003: Salary Increased to $25 Million
In January 2003, during the 7th season of Judge Judy, Sheindlin's annual salary increased to $25 million as part of a contract extension through the 10th season, placing her among the top-paid TV performers.
April 30, 2003: 60 Minutes Appearance
On April 30, 2003, Sheindlin appeared again on 60 Minutes, discussing her contract and future plans for Judge Judy.
2003: Ratings Slip
In 2003, during Judge Judy's 7th season, the show averaged a 5.0 rating, continuing the slip from previous years.
2004: Ratings Reversal
In 2004, during Judge Judy's 8th season, Sheindlin reversed the season-to-season downward turn in her ratings by averaging a 7.1.
2004: Major Remodeling
In 2004, the ninth season (2004–05) saw major remodeling, including modified music and graphics with a Beethoven remix as the theme music.
2004: Dropped Line in Opening
In 2004, with the start of season 9, the statement "This is her courtroom" was dropped from the show's opening music video.
September 2005: Contract Extended Through 12th Season
In September 2005, just before Judge Judy's 10th season anniversary, her contract was extended for 2 seasons, promising the program through its 12th season, and increasing her annual salary to $30 million.
2005: Court Genre Leader
During the 2004-05 season, in 2005, Judge Judy remained the court genre leader with a 7.5 ratings score.
February 2006: Sheindlin Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In February 2006, Sheindlin earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work on Judge Judy.
2006: Contract through 2006
In 2006, Sheindlin's contract was set to run through the 2006 season, marking a potential 10-year run for Judge Judy.
2006: Ratings Decline
In 2006, during its 10th season, Judge Judy averaged a 4.8 rating. Other programs in the genre trailed Sheindlin by a vast distance.
2006: Judge Mablean Ephriam's Departure
Mablean Ephriam ended her presiding role on Divorce Court in 2006.
January 2007: Sebastien objects to discrimination
In January 2007, Jonathan Sebastien, a producer for Judge Judy, objected to alleged discriminatory case selection practices, which led to verbal abuse from his boss.
November 13, 2007: Karen Needle Fired and Sues Douthit
On November 13, 2007, Karen Needle, the show's former associate producer, was fired and later sued Douthit, claiming wrongful termination due to her age. Sheindlin was not named as a defendant.
December 26, 2007: Wrongful termination lawsuit filed
On December 26, 2007, Jonathan Sebastien, a former producer of Judge Judy, filed a lawsuit against the production company for wrongful termination, alleging discrimination against black litigants.
2007: Contract Extended
In 2007, during its 12th season, Judge Judy averaged a 4.8 rating and was the only first-run syndication program to increase in ratings from the previous season, leading CBS to extend her contract.
2007: "Judge Judy: Justice Served" DVD Release
In 2007, the show released the DVD "Judge Judy: Justice Served," featuring memorable cases.
2007: CBS Television Distribution
King World Productions, which launched Oprah, was folded into CBS Television Distribution in 2007, which distributed Judge Judy
January 2008: Salary Increased to $45 Million
In January 2008, during the show's 12th season, Sheindlin's annual salary increased to $45 million when her contract was renewed through the 2013-14 television season.
2008: 13th Season Viewership
In 2008, during its 13th season, Judge Judy averaged a 4.2 rating and 9.02 million average daily viewers.
2008: Introduction of Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Daytime Emmy Category
In 2008, the Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Daytime Emmy category was introduced, but Judge Judy still failed to win.
2008: "Judge Judy: Second To None" DVD Release
In 2008, the show released the DVD "Judge Judy: Second To None," featuring more memorable cases.
January 26, 2009: Needle's Case Dismissed
On January 26, 2009, Karen Needle's case against Douthit was dismissed following a jury trial.
2009: Rebel's earnings zeroed out
In 2009, Rebel's earnings were zeroed out due to Judith Sheindlin's increase in salary.
2009: Lawsuit filed against Douthit
In 2009, a lawsuit was filed against Randy Douthit by former Senior Producer Jonathan Sebastien, alleging Douthit stated, "We're not doing any more Black shows. I don't want to hear Black people arguing."
2009: Ratings Beat Oprah
In 2009, during its 14th season, Judge Judy surpassed The Oprah Winfrey Show's ratings for the first time in nearly a decade, with a 4.4 rating and 9.6 million average daily viewers.
August 2010: Nicki Minaj Expresses Love for Judge Judy
In August 2010, Nicki Minaj stated that Judge Judy is one of her favorite television programs and one of her favorite things to do in her spare time is watch the show.
2010: Fabricated Lawsuit
In 2010, a lawsuit was fabricated about the death of a cat as a result of a television crushing it.
2010: Highest Rated in Daytime
In 2010, during its 15th season, Judge Judy became the highest-rated show in all of daytime television programming, remaining ahead of Oprah in her final season.
April 2011: Nielsen's Methodology Change Boosts Ratings
In April 2011, Nielsen's change in methodology boosted Judge Judy's ratings during its 16th and late 15th seasons. The new method tallied ratings points by adding all viewings for each daily episode, benefiting shows airing multiple episodes a day.
May 2011: Contract Extended Again
In May 2011, as a result of continued high ratings, CBS extended Sheindlin's contract through the 2014–15 season.
May 2011: Contract Extended, Salary Increased to $47 Million
In May 2011, during the show's 15th season, Sheindlin's contract was extended to the 2014–15 television season, and her Judge Judy salary increased to $47 million.
September 13, 2011: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Appearance
On September 13, 2011, Sheindlin appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she discussed her work schedule.
2011: Judge Judy's Emmy Nominations
By 2011, Sheindlin's series had been nominated for 14 consecutive years for the Daytime Emmy Award without ever winning.
2011: Judge Judy Dominates Daytime
In 2011, during the first post-Oprah television season, Judge Judy continued to dominate daytime television and became the top-rated show in all of syndication. The show's 16th season (2011–12) achieved a 7.0 rating and an average of 9.29 million daily viewers, surpassing both first-run and off-network syndication programs.
September 2012: Switch to High Definition
In September 2012, Judge Judy switched to high definition with its 17th season.
October 2012: Sheindlin Inducted into Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame
In October 2012, Sheindlin was inducted into Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame.
2012: Advertising Revenue
In 2012, Judge Judy's courtroom series brought in $230 million in advertising for CBS.
2012: Judge Judy's 17th Season Ratings
In 2012, for its 17th season (2012–13), Judge Judy pulled in a 7.0 household rating and delivered 9.63 million average daily viewers, growing by 32,000 viewers over the prior season. Despite this, Judge Judy lost its 1st place spot as the ratings leader in all of syndication to The Big Bang Theory, but still earned the title of ratings leader in all of first-run syndication and daytime television programming.
2012: Judge Judy Snubbed by Emmy Awards
In 2012, the New York Post reported that Judge Judy was snubbed by the Emmy Awards for never winning and not even being nominated in the Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Emmy category.
February 2013: Jim Harbaugh Praises Judge Judy's Courtroom Truthfulness
In February 2013, Jim Harbaugh, head football coach for the San Francisco 49ers, praised Judge Judy for her emphasis on truthfulness in the courtroom.
March 2013: Lawsuit filed against Sheindlin
In March 2013, Patrice Jones, Douthit's ex-wife, filed a lawsuit against Judith Sheindlin, alleging conspiracy to deprive her of Christofle fine china and Marly cutlery, seeking $514,421 in damages.
March 2013: Producer informs law firm of unauthorized use of image
In March 2013, Sheindlin's producer informed John Haymond's law firm that the unauthorized use of her image in advertisements was not permitted.
April 2013: Sheindlin Elected Vice President of UCD Law Society
In April 2013, Sheindlin was elected as vice president of the UCD Law Society.
April 2013: Lawsuit Fabrication
In April 2013, former litigants revealed they conspired in 2010 to fabricate a lawsuit that Sheindlin awarded, resulting in payment to the plaintiff and an all-expenses-paid vacation to Hollywood for the litigants.
May 3, 2013: Sheindlin Responds to Emmy 'Snub'
On May 3, 2013, Sheindlin was questioned by Entertainment Tonight about the Emmy "snub" and her court show's failure to ever win, to which she responded.
June 14, 2013: Judge Judy Wins First Daytime Emmy
On June 14, 2013, Judge Judy won its first Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program after receiving its 15th nomination.
October 17, 2013: Lawsuit over Judge Judy episode posted on YouTube
On October 17, 2013, Big Ticket Television and the producers of Judge Judy filed a lawsuit against Ignacio De Los Angeles for posting an episode of Judge Judy on YouTube without permission.
November 2013: Sheindlin Comments on Wapner and Other TV Judges
In November 2013, during an interview with Larry King, Sheindlin described Joseph Wapner's The People's Court as "Oatmeal!" and expressed her enjoyment of Judge Mills Lane of Judge Mills Lane.
2013: Highest Paid TV Star
In 2013, Sheindlin's $47 million per year Judge Judy salary reportedly made her the highest-paid television star.
2013: Judge Judy's 18th Season Ratings
In 2013, for the 18th season (2013–14), Judge Judy rose to a 7.2 household rating and brought in 9.94 million viewers, gaining 8% over its prior season. The show reclaimed the title as the highest-rated program in daytime and syndication.
2013: Paternity Court Set Location
In 2013, the set beside Judge Judy was used for Paternity Court for one season before Hot Bench took over in 2014.
February 2014: Report on Judge Judy's Audience
In February 2014, it was reported that Judge Judy's audience was mostly composed of older women, African Americans, and Latinos.
March 12, 2014: Sheindlin sues lawyer for using her image without consent
On March 12, 2014, Judith Sheindlin filed a lawsuit against attorney John Haymond for using her image in advertisements without her consent, seeking over $75,000 in damages, which she planned to donate to college scholarships.
May 20, 2014: Judge Judy Primetime Airing
On May 20, 2014, CBS aired Judge Judy Primetime, a one-hour special that brought in 5.66 million viewers.
August 8, 2014: Sheindlin and Haymond settle out of court
On August 8, 2014, the case between Judith Sheindlin and attorney John Haymond settled out of court, with Haymond agreeing to donate money to Sheindlin's charity.
September 2014: Mathis' Court Show Judge Preferences
In September 2014, during a Rickey Smiley Morning Show interview, Greg Mathis said he'd most enjoy sharing a meal with Judge Judy, followed by Judge Marilyn Milian, and Judge Mills Lane.
2014: Set Location Alongside Hot Bench
From 2014, the Judge Judy courtroom set was located beside the set of Hot Bench.
2014: Judge Judy's 19th Season Ratings
In 2014, Judge Judy's 19th season (2014-15) pulled in a 7.0 household rating and remained the highest rated program in both daytime television and all of syndication.
2014: Sheindlin Given Mary Pickford Award
In 2014, Sheindlin was given the Mary Pickford Award by the Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation at the Heroes of Hollywood event.
2014: Highest Paid TV Star
In 2014, Sheindlin's $47 million per year Judge Judy salary reportedly made her the highest-paid television star.
2014: Hot Bench launched
In 2014, the television show "Hot Bench", a courtroom-arbitrated show, was launched by Judith Sheindlin and her producers.
2014: Contract Extended Again
In May 2011, as a result of continued high ratings, CBS extended Sheindlin's contract through the 2014–15 season.
March 2015: Sheindlin granted episode library
In March 2015, CBS granted Judith Sheindlin the Judge Judy episode library as part of a contract renewal deal.
March 2015: Contract Renewal and Ownership of Episode Library
In March 2015, during the 19th season, Sheindlin renewed her contract with CBS for $47 million annually, gaining ownership of the Judge Judy episode library and granting CBS a first-look production deal with Queen Bee Productions.
September 14, 2015: 20th Season Anniversary
On September 14, 2015, Judge Judy began celebrating its 20th season anniversary, marking a milestone as the first court show to reach this milestone under one arbitrator and earning Sheindlin a place in the Guinness World Records.
September 2015: Sheindlin Enters Guinness World Records
In September 2015, Sheindlin earned a place in the Guinness World Records for her long span as a television jurist or arbitrator, lasting longer than any other.
2015: Judge Judy's 20th Season Ratings
In 2015, Judge Judy's 20th season (2015-16) was its third consecutive year as syndication's top strip, averaging a 7.0 full-season household rating.
March 14, 2016: Rebel Entertainment files multimillion-dollar lawsuit against CBS
On March 14, 2016, Rebel Entertainment Partners Inc. filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against CBS Television Distribution for allegedly failing to pay the agency its contractually agreed-to share of Judge Judy's profits, also attacking Sheindlin's high salary and the creation of the spin-off show 'Hot Bench' in 2014 without their consultation.
2016: Judge Judy Wins Daytime Emmy
In 2016, Judge Judy won another Daytime Emmy.
2016: Judge Judy's 21st Season Triumphs
In 2016, for its 21st season (2016–17), Judge Judy scored a 6.8 household rating and trounced all of its competitors in daytime and syndication.
2016: Negasi Zuberi on Judge Judy
In 2016, serial rapist Negasi Zuberi, under the alias Justin Hyche, appeared on Judge Judy.
2016: Sheindlin deposition
In the summer of 2016, during a deposition, Judith Sheindlin stated that CBS had no choice but to pay her what she wanted due to her ability to take the show elsewhere.
August 2017: CBS announces acquiring episode library
In August 2017, Paul Franklin, President of CBS Television Distribution, announced that CBS was "acquiring" rather than "buying" the Judge Judy episode library from Judith Sheindlin.
August 2017: Contract Renewal and Episode Library Deal
In August 2017, during the show's 21st season, Sheindlin extended the show for one season, to its 25th, and submitted the Judge Judy episode library back to CBS, allegedly earning an additional $100 million annually.
November 26, 2017: Curb Your Enthusiasm Appearance
On November 26, 2017, Judge Judy and her program appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she presided over a sketch comedy court case with Larry David as the plaintiff.
2017: Judge Judy Wins Daytime Emmy
In 2017, Judge Judy won another Daytime Emmy.
2017: Contract Renewal
In 2017, Sheindlin and CBS renewed their contract for the final time, leading to the show's 25th and final season.
2017: Judge Judy Dominates Syndication
In 2017, for the 22nd season (2017–18), Judge Judy attained a 6.9 live plus same day household average, well ahead of anything else in syndication, marking its 5th straight year as the leader in all of syndication ratings and the 9th straight year as the leader in first-run syndication ratings.
January 19, 2018: Breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Switzer and Spreckman
On January 19, 2018, a breach-of-contract lawsuit was filed against Judith Sheindlin, CBS, and Big Ticket Television by Kaye Switzer and the trust of Sandi Spreckman, claiming they were owed royalties for introducing Sheindlin to Larry Little.
April 2018: Verdict in Rebel Entertainment lawsuit
In April 2018, Judge Joanne O'Donnell ruled that Judith Sheindlin's salary was not a breach of contract but partially ruled in Rebel's favor, stating there was a breach of contract for failing to consult Lawrence before launching 'Hot Bench'.
September 2018: Judge Mathis Enters 20th Season
In September 2018, Judge Mathis entered its 20th season, becoming the second court show to reach this milestone.
November 2018: Highest Paid Host
In November 2018, Forbes named Sheindlin the highest-paid host, stemming from her $47 million per year Judge Judy salary combined with the annual income from her Judge Judy episode library.
2018: Judge O'Donnell's ruling on salary
In 2018, Judge Joanne O'Donnell ruled that CBS did not breach its contract with Rebel by increasing Judith Sheindlin's salary.
2018: Resignation of Les Moonves
In 2018, Les Moonves resigned from his role as chief executive over CBS, resulting from a multitude of scandals, which affected Sheindlin's relationship with the network.
2018: Judge Judy Tops First-Run Syndication Ratings
In 2018, Nielsen reported that Judge Judy topped first-run syndication ratings for the 10th straight year with a 6.8 household rating for the 23rd season (2018–19).
2019: Sheindlin receives Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2019, Amy Poehler presented Sheindlin with the Lifetime Achievement Award because she was a big fan. Byrd stated that he was seated 15 to 20 rows back.
2019: Judge Judy Leads First-Run Syndication
In 2019, Nielsen's ratings showed that Judge Judy finished its penultimate season (2019–20) at the top of first-run syndication for an 11th straight year, with a 6.2 household rating. Its closest competitors were Family Feud, Jeopardy!, and Wheel of Fortune.
February 2020: CBS attempts settlement with Rebel Entertainment
In February 2020, CBS attempted to reach a settlement with Rebel Entertainment in their ongoing legal battle over Judge Judy profits.
February 2020: Settlement attempt, series ending announced and Judy Justice spin-off
In February 2020, CBS attempted to settle with Rebel Entertainment; less than a week later, Judith Sheindlin announced the end of her 'Judge Judy' series on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' and her plans for a spin-off series, 'Judy Justice'.
March 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the 24th season production of Judge Judy to end prematurely.
April 21, 2020: Steve Kamer Takes Over as Voice-Over Announcer
On April 21, 2020, Steve Kamer became the voice-over announcer for Judge Judy's 25th season following the death of Jerry Bishop.
August 2020: Second lawsuit and countersuit filed
In early August 2020, Rebel Entertainment filed a second lawsuit naming ViacomCBS and Sheindlin as defendants, while Sheindlin filed a $22 million countersuit against Rebel Entertainment.
2020: Douthit's behavior continues through season 25
In 2020, Douthit's alleged behavior of not wanting to hear black people arguing continued through season 25.
2020: Net Worth
In 2020, Sheindlin's net worth was reportedly $440 million.
2020: Judge Judy's 25th Anniversary
In 2020, celebrating its 25th anniversary, Judge Judy concluded its run with an estimated 7.8 million viewers, marking its 12th year as the top Nielsen-rated program in first-run syndication for the 2020-2021 season.
2020: Lynn Toler's Departure
Lynn Toler ended her presiding role on Divorce Court in 2020.
February 2021: Sheindlin's counterclaim dismissed
In February 2021, Judge Richard Burdge ruled that Sheindlin's counterclaim against Rebel Entertainment would be dismissed because she refused to name CBS as a defendant.
March 2021: Defendants petition for summary judgment
In March 2021, Judith Sheindlin, Big Ticket Pictures, Her Honor, and CBS Studios petitioned the courts for a summary judgment in the case filed by Switzer and the trust of Spreckman.
April 15, 2021: Final Case Taped
On April 15, 2021, Sheindlin taped the final case of the series, involving a general contractor suing a customer, with no farewell remarks made.
May 21, 2021: Sheindlin Discusses Pilot Episode
On May 21, 2021, Sheindlin expressed her disfavor of the Judge Judy pilot episode, revealing it used fictionalized cases and dramatized reactions.
June 8, 2021: Final Filmed Case Airs
On June 8, 2021, the final filmed case of Judge Judy aired, featuring Judge Judy wearing a glittery, bee-shaped clip in her hair as a wink to her fans and a nod to her Queen Bee production company.
June 12, 2021: Demurrer to dismiss lawsuit denied
On June 12, 2021, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Nieto denied Sheindlin and her attorneys' demurrer to have Rebel's lawsuit dismissed through summary judgment.
June 2021: Sheindlin's statements about tensions with CBS
In June 2021, Judge Judy Sheindlin publicly stated that tensions with CBS and feeling disrespected by the network were the basis for her show ending.
July 23, 2021: Series Finale Airs
On July 23, 2021, the series finale episode of Judge Judy aired, titled "Architecture Barter Gone Bad".
July 30, 2021: Court upholds ruling in CBS favor
On July 30, 2021, the California Courts of Appeal upheld the 2018 ruling stating that CBS did not breach its contract with Rebel by increasing Sheindlin's salary, thus affecting Rebel's earnings.
October 2021: Byrd's Explanation for Not Returning
In October 2021, Bailiff Byrd revealed that he was omitted from Judge Judy's spin-off, Judy Justice, due to budget constraints, as explained to him by Sheindlin during a phone call initiated by Byrd.
November 2021: Byrd feels snubbed by the Emmys
In November 2021, Byrd stated that he felt snubbed by the Emmys in 2019, when he was not allowed to present Sheindlin's Lifetime Achievement Award to her at the Daytime Emmy ceremony.
November 2021: Staffers confirm Sebastien's claims
In November 2021, six Judge Judy staffers confirmed Jonathan Sebastien's claims that Randy Douthit did not want to hear black people arguing, additionally alleging that this behavior from Douthit continued through season 25 in 2020–21.
2021: End of Judge Judy
In 2021, Judge Judy concluded, while Hot Bench remained in production.
2021: Net Worth
In 2021, Sheindlin's net worth was reportedly $460 million.
2021: Judy Justice season one
Judy Justice season one occurred during the 2021-2022 television season.
February 2022: Defendants granted summary judgment
In February 2022, the court granted the defendants' petition for summary judgment, effectively dismissing the case filed by Switzer and Spreckman.
April 2022: Judge Judy reruns outperform Judy Justice season one
In April 2022, it was computed that Judge Judy reruns have vastly outperformed Judy Justice season one (2021–22) in viewership quantities.
April 28, 2022: Byrd's return to TV duties
On April 28, 2022, it was announced that Byrd would return to televised bailiff duties for a courtroom series, entitled Tribunal, created and produced by Sheindlin, streamed on Amazon Freevee.
August 2022: Judge Judy remains high-rated program
In August 2022, it was reported that Judge Judy remained one of the highest-rated programs in daytime television and syndication, over a year after production concluded.
September 2022: Rebel's lawsuit dismissed
In September 2022, Los Angeles Superior Court judge Kristin Escalante granted a motion by Sheindlin and ViacomCBS to have Rebel's lawsuit dismissed.
November 2022: Sheindlin comments on Judge Judy's enduring success
During a November 2022 interview, Sheindlin commented on the enduring success and timelessness of Judge Judy reruns, noting that it was still number one in daytime television.
2022: Faith Jenkins' Departure
Faith Jenkins ended her presiding role on Divorce Court in 2022.
2022: The People's Court's Longest Production Continuance
In 2022, with Judge Judy off the air, The People's Court's current/2nd production incarnation boasts the longest single production continuance of any court show, having reached 26 seasons by the 2022-23 television year.
2023: Negasi Zuberi Arrest
In 2023, Negasi Zuberi was arrested following the abduction and imprisonment of a woman.
2025: Negasi Zuberi Sentenced
In 2025, Negasi Zuberi was sentenced to life in prison.
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