You probably know her as the sharp-tongued, lace-collared arbiter of justice who doesn't take nonsense from anyone. But behind the scenes of Judy Sheindlin’s billion-dollar media empire is a man who actually managed to get her to stop talking—at least for a second. Meet Jerry Sheindlin. He isn’t just the husband of Judge Judy; he’s a Korean War veteran, a former New York Supreme Court Justice, and a guy who once tried to compete with his wife in the TV ratings.
Honestly, their story is kind of wild. It’s got everything: a barroom meet-cute, a high-stakes legal career, a divorce that lasted only a year, and a remarriage that has defied every Hollywood statistic. If you think Judy is tough, you should see the man she chose to spend half a century with.
The Night They Met: A Finger in the Face
The year was 1977. Jerry Sheindlin had just finished a grueling murder trial as a defense attorney. He was at a bar in New York, chatting with a reporter from the New York Post. In walks Judy—at the time, a prosecutor—who apparently didn't appreciate Jerry getting all the press attention.
She walked right up to him, put her finger in his face, and demanded, "And who is this?"
Jerry’s response? "Lady, get your finger out of my face."
Most people would have backed down. Judy? She was hooked. It was the start of a relationship built on mutual intellectual respect and, as Judy often says in interviews, a very healthy dose of physical attraction. They got married later that year, blending a family of five children (three of his, two of hers) and setting the stage for a legal power couple that would eventually take over daytime television.
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Why the Husband of Judge Judy Divorced Her (and Why They Came Back)
People often forget that the Sheindlins actually broke up. In 1990, after 13 years of marriage, they called it quits.
It wasn’t about cheating or some massive scandal. It was about grief and expectation. Judy’s father, Murray Blum, had recently passed away. She was devastated. She looked to Jerry for a specific kind of emotional support that he, a man of his generation, didn't quite know how to provide at the time.
"I missed him," Judy later told Chris Wallace. She realized that most men were basically the same in their needs—food, companionship, and a bit of "catering to"—and she decided she'd rather have Jerry's version of that than anyone else's.
They were divorced for exactly one year.
By 1991, they were standing in front of a judge again, but this time to say "I do" for the second time. They’ve been together ever since. It's a rare example of a "rebound" marriage with your own ex actually working out for the long haul.
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Jerry Sheindlin: A Legal Powerhouse in His Own Right
It’s easy to be overshadowed when your wife is one of the highest-paid women in television history. But Jerry’s resume is no joke.
- Military Service: He served in the Army during the Korean War, an experience he often credits for his discipline.
- DNA Pioneer: As a New York Supreme Court Justice, he presided over the first case in United States history where DNA evidence was admitted into a trial. That’s a massive legacy.
- The People’s Court: From 1999 to 2001, Jerry actually became his wife's "rival." He took over as the judge on The People's Court, replacing Ed Koch.
Imagine their dinner table conversations in 2000. They were both presiding over televised courtrooms at the same time. Jerry was known for a much more humorous, laid-back style compared to Judy’s "baloney" detector, but the competition was real. Judy was the one who encouraged him to take the job, though she jokingly told him not to expect her to share her secrets for high ratings.
The Secret Sauce: 48 Years and Still Counting
Today, Jerry is 92 years old. In 2026, the couple still maintains multiple homes across the country, including a massive $9 million estate in Newport, Rhode Island, and their primary residence in Naples, Florida.
What keeps it working? Judy is surprisingly candid about this.
First, there’s the physical element. She recently admitted that Jerry still keeps himself in great shape and she "likes to look at him" when he walks into a room.
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Second, it’s about space. They don't spend 24 hours a day together. They have separate interests, separate wings of the house sometimes, and they don't smother each other. They’ve built a massive blended family with 13 grandchildren, one of whom, Sarah Rose, now works alongside Judy on her latest show, Judy Justice.
What We Can Learn From the Sheindlins
The husband of Judge Judy isn't a sidekick. He's a partner who was secure enough to let his wife become a global icon while maintaining his own dignity and career.
If you're looking for the "takeaway" from their five-decade saga, it's pretty simple:
- Don't be afraid to walk away if things aren't working, but don't be too proud to come back if you realize you made a mistake.
- Keep your sense of humor. Jerry’s wit is reportedly the only thing that can consistently disarm Judy.
- Maintain your own identity. Jerry never tried to be "Mr. Judge Judy." He was Judge Jerry Sheindlin, and that made all the difference.
To really understand the Sheindlin dynamic, you have to look at their public appearances. Even now, in their 90s, they look like a couple that actually likes each other. In a world of PR-managed celebrity marriages, that's the most "human" thing about them.
To keep up with the Sheindlin legacy, you can watch their granddaughter Sarah Rose on Judy Justice or pick up Jerry's books, Genetic Fingerprinting and Blood Trail, to see the technical brilliance that defined his career long before the cameras started rolling.