Fact check: Is Shira Scheindlin related to Judy Sheindlin? Explained

Judge Shira Scheindlin and Judy Sheindlin, who is known on television as "Judge Judy," are separate, even though their names sound similar. A well-known former federal judge for the Southern District of New York, Shira Scheindlin is known for her historic decisions, including her declaration that the "stop-and-frisk" tactic in New York City is illegal. Though their family histories and surname spellings are different, her name is frequently confused with Judy's. 

Judy Sheindlin, a former Manhattan family court judge, came to fame as a result of her popular television program Judge Judy and later Judy Justice. Shira's last name has always been spelled with a "e," but Judy's has always been spelled with a "i". They are unrelated to one another; they have no common parents, ancestry, or public records.

The media frequently acknowledges this misunderstanding, stating that Shira and Judy are from completely different families, despite public interest and frequent misunderstandings. Their names and similar judicial careers seem to be a mere coincidence.

Who is Shira Scheindlin?

Shira Ann Scheindlin is an eminent American attorney and jurist renowned for her groundbreaking career as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. She served actively until 2011 after being appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, and she remained a senior judge until her retirement in April 2016. She was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Detroit. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in Far Eastern studies in 1967, Columbia with an MA in history in 1969, and Cornell Law School with a doctorate in 1975.

Scheindlin handled well-known cases during her time on the court, such as the historic Zubulake v. Washington case and the Floyd v. City of New York stop-and-frisk ruling. The UBS Warburg e-discovery decisions influenced contemporary electronic discovery procedures. She received various legal honors for her decisions, such as the Stanley H. Full Award and the William J. Brennan Award.

Scheindlin moved into private practice and mediation after leaving the bench. After joining Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in 2016, she joined Boies Schiller Flexner LLP as an attorney in September 2023. She continues to serve in a variety of civil and business issues there as a mediator, arbitrator, special master, mock trial judge, and expert witness. 

Who is Judy Sheindlin?

Judy Sheindlin  is an American jurist, television personality, and bestselling author. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, attended American University for her B.A., and graduated from New York Law School in 1965 as the sole female student in a class of 126.

Sheindlin made the switch to television in 1996, when she debuted the renowned courtroom series Judge Judy, which ran for 25 seasons until July 23, 2021. It became the highest-rated midday show and garnered Sheindlin a Guinness World Record as the longest-serving court show arbitrator. She was well-known for her quick, shrewd decisions and keen wit. In 2019, she also won a Lifetime Achievement Emmy and several Daytime Emmys. 

She continued her television court legacy after Judge Judy by launching Judy Justice, an arbitration-based series, on Amazon Freevee in November 2021. Sheindlin is also a prolific writer, with books including Dumb Is Forever, Tell Me It's Raining, and Don't Pee on My Leg, among others. Beyond the media, Sheindlin is a cultural icon whose straightforward approach changed the way people watch courtroom television and affected how they view the legal system.

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