Judith Sheindlin (Judge Judy) Autograph, Original Hand Signed Photo

Judith Susan Blum-Sheindlin (born October 21, 1942), also known as Judith Sheindlin or Judge Judy, is an American lawyer, former judge, television personality, producer, and author. Since 1996, Sheindlin has presided over her own successful Daytime Emmy Award winning reality courtroom series, Judge Judy.

Sheindlin passed the New York bar examination in 1965 and became a prosecutor in the family court system. In 1982 Mayor Ed Koch appointed her as a judge, first in criminal court, then later as Manhattan's supervising family court judge in 1986.

It was reported in mid-2012 that Sheindlin was the highest paid television personality, making $123,000 per episode of Judge Judy, or $45 million annually for the 52 days per year that she tapes her show. In October 2013 it was reported that Sheindlin was still the highest paid TV star, earning $47 million per year for Judge Judy.

Sheindlin began presiding on Judge Judy in national syndication on September 16, 1996. She is the longest serving judge or arbitrator in courtroom-themed programming history, a distinction that earned Sheindlin a place in the Guinness World Records.