Judge Judy Steps Away From TV as ‘Judy Justice’ Comes to an End

After three decades of laying down the law on television, Judge Judy is finally ready to leave the bench.

Judy Sheindlin is stepping away from her regular on-camera television career as Judy Justice prepares to come to an end in October 2026. The move closes a remarkable 30-year chapter that began when Judge Judy premiered in 1996 and turned Sheindlin into one of the most recognizable personalities in daytime television.

For longtime viewers, it might be strange to imagine daytime TV without her. Judge Judy ran for 25 seasons before ending in 2021, but Sheindlin barely gave audiences time to miss her. She quickly returned with Judy Justice, bringing her familiar no-nonsense approach to a new courtroom and a new era of television.

Now, at 83, Sheindlin says she is ready to step away from being in front of the camera. Speaking with People, she joked about being finished with the routine that comes with television appearances, including hair and makeup, while making it clear that she feels pretty satisfied with what she has accomplished.

That doesn't mean Judge Judy is disappearing from the television business. Sheindlin is passing the gavel to someone very close to her: her son, former Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy. Levy will preside over the upcoming syndicated courtroom series Adam's Law, which Sheindlin created and executive produces. The new series premieres September 14, making the transition feel less like Judy is walking away from her television legacy and more like she's handing it to the next generation.

She's also reportedly developing Judyverse, an adult animated project inspired by the viral AI-generated "Baby Judge Judy" videos. Apparently retirement for Judge Judy still involves creating television, she just doesn't have to sit in the chair every day anymore.

CBS will also celebrate Sheindlin's extraordinary run with Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable on September 22, giving viewers another chance to look back at the woman who became synonymous with television courtroom shows.

It's hard to overstate just how long Judge Judy has been part of the TV landscape. There are adults watching television today who have never known a world where Judy Sheindlin wasn't somewhere on their screen telling somebody exactly what she thought of their story.

When Judy Justice wraps in October, that streak finally comes to an end. After 30 years, thousands of cases and more memorable one-liners than we could possibly count, Judge Judy is leaving the television bench on her own terms.

The courtroom, however, isn't closing. She's simply handing over the gavel.