Judge Judy passes gavel to son in new courtroom program

Longtime television personality Judge Judy Sheindlin is transitioning from her iconic courtroom role, passing the gavel to her son, Adam Levy, in a new program titled 'Adam's Law.' The courtroom show, created and executive produced by Sheindlin, premiered in national syndication this Monday, September 14.

While Sheindlin is stepping away from her familiar role, a representative clarified that she is "not retiring, just rewiring." The 83-year-old judge and television personality indicated in a recent interview with People that she plans to retire from television entirely after her Prime Video series, 'Judy Justice,' concludes in October. She expressed a desire to pursue other interests and move beyond the demands of daily television production, stating, "I don’t want to do hair and makeup anymore, but I still want my message to get out there."

Adam Levy, Sheindlin's son, is a graduate of Hofstra Law School. After a stint as a ski instructor, he entered private practice and served as the Putnam County, N.Y., district attorney. Levy began his television career in 2023 on the Prime Video show 'Tribunal Justice.' Sheindlin expressed confidence in her son's abilities, noting, "He has what it takes" to carry a half-hour unscripted program.

Sheindlin herself has a long history in law and television. She graduated from New York Law School in 1965 and worked as a prosecutor, handling cases involving juvenile crime, domestic violence, and child abuse starting in 1972. After retiring from family court, she launched the syndicated show 'Judge Judy' in 1996. The program aired for 25 seasons, concluding in 2021, and at its peak, drew an estimated 10 million viewers. Sheindlin became known for her direct approach and memorable one-liners.

Sheindlin has spoken about the impact of her show, telling the LA Times in June 2021 that many viewers, particularly women, found inspiration to make significant life changes, such as leaving abusive relationships or seeking divorce. Her granddaughter, Sarah Rose, shared in a November 2022 interview that despite her tough on-screen persona, Sheindlin possesses a softer, supportive side and is a strong problem solver for her loved ones.