One of the most popular female Jewish television personalities out of New York has made a move to share her success with a “minyan” of women, New York Law School Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell announced together with television icon “Judge Judy” Sheindlin.
Born Judith Susan Blum to a Jewish family from Germany and Russia in Brooklyn, Sheindlin graduated from James Madison High School, and then American University in Washington DC, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in government. She finished her law school education at New York Law School, earning her Juris Doctor degree in 1965 and passing the New York State Bar Exam that same year.
After her graduation she worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel at the New York City Law Department Family Court Division.
Sheindlin was appointed to the bench by Mayor Ed Koch in 1982 and was the Supervising Judge at Manhattan Family Court from 1986 to 1996, before starting her career in broadcasting.
Three generations of women from Sheindlin’s family have attended NYLS: her daughter Nicole Sheindlin ’93, her granddaughter Sarah Rose, who is set to graduate this spring, and the Judge herself, who graduated in 1965.
Sheindlin donated $5 million to New York Law School to establish the Judge Judy Sheindlin Honors Scholars program, and to formalize an enduring partnership with Her Honor Mentoring, a mentoring program for young women founded and developed by Judge Sheindlin and Nicole Sheindlin in 2006.
When fully implemented, NYLS will host 10 women each year, who will receive a full-tuition scholarship, book stipend, and a summer employment fellowship after their first year of law school.
Last September, Sheindlin wrapped a historic 25 year-run of The Emmy Award-winning Judge Judy, one of the most successful programs in the history of television. Judge Judy finished as the #1 program in first-run syndication for 12 consecutive seasons and was #1 in daytime from 1998–99 season until it concluded in 2021.
“Judge Judy Sheindlin is one of the most prominent graduates in our school’s history,” said Anthony W. Crowell, NYLS Dean and President. “Her gift is a profound commitment to women aspiring to attend law school and will ensure they have the opportunity to gain a first-class education and become leaders throughout the profession. I am proud that women are now the majority of our student body, and they have an extraordinary role model and champion in Judge Sheindlin. I look forward to working with her, Nicole, and Sarah, to support our women students and giving them the tools to succeed.”
“New York Law School has evolved into a welcoming and nurturing institution since I graduated in 1965,” said Judge Judy Sheindlin. “It is a joy for me to be able to support talented women in their pursuit of a career in the law. Independent and focused women not only enrich the profession, but the world.”