Judith Sheindlin - Legal Career

Legal Career

Sheindlin passed the New York Bar Exam in 1965, the same year as her graduation, and was hired as a corporate lawyer for a cosmetics firm. Within two years she became dissatisfied with her job and left to raise her two children. She was soon made aware of a position in the New York court system as a prosecutor in the family courts. In her role as a lawyer, Sheindlin prosecuted child abuse cases, domestic violence, and juvenile crime.

By 1982 Sheindlin's no-nonsense attitude inspired New York Mayor, Ed Koch, to appoint her as a judge in criminal court. Four years later, she was promoted to supervising judge in the Manhattan division of the family court. She earned a reputation as a "tough" judge (though she disagrees with the labels "tough" and "harsh"), known for her fast decision-making and acerbic wit.

In February 1993 Sheindlin's outspoken reputation made her the subject of a Los Angeles Times article, profiling her as a woman determined to make the court system work for the common good. She subsequently was featured in a segment on CBS's 60 Minutes, bringing her national recognition. This led to her first book, Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining, published in 1996. She retired as a family court judge that same year after hearing over 20,000 cases. After her retirement, Sheindlin continued to receive increasing amounts of public attention.