Judy Sheindlin Wants to Make You ‘a Little Smarter’: ‘Justice on Trial’ Scrutinizes Landmark Criminal Cases

More than 10 years ago, Judy Sheindlin found herself “enraged” over the outcome of a high-profile legal case in New York City.

The celebrated TV jurist — better known as Judge Judy — channeled her surplus energy into developing an unscripted series for CBS to examine hugely significant, precedent-setting legal cases. The idea was to recreate the original arguments to study the legal theories and the courtroom jousts that shaped landmark decisions.

The project never got off the ground at CBS. But earlier this month, Sheindlin’s vision for the show took shape with the debut of “Justice on Trial” on Amazon Prime Video. It’s no accident that the series’ initial eight episodes launched on July 21, which marked the 100th anniversary of the famous Scopes trial over a Tennessee high school science teacher’s effort to instruct his students on Darwin’s theory of evolution. Yes, the Scopes trial is one of the eight cases tackled.

“A hundred years ago, people were fighting over what you should be teaching children in school,” Sheindlin tells Variety. “That’s what it was about. And we’re totally still fighting over it today.”

The goal, Sheindlin explains, is to help viewers understand the underlying principles of decisions, even when they don’t agree with the outcomes. Sheindlin makes an effort to explain in plain-language terms the basic mechanics of the U.S. criminal justice system. She also explains why the courts are full of hearings, motions, evidentiary battles and emergency filings.

“It was 10 years in the making, but for me it was worth it,” Sheindlin says. “I like people who watch television and come away a little smarter. Everybody knows what Miranda warnings are. We watch enough law-and-order and crime programs. You know you have the right to remain silent. We all know what that is. But wouldn’t it be interesting to have someplace in the recess of your mind what case that came from? Just so that you’re a smarter person, a more interesting person. You have a little bit more information.”

“Justice on Trial” marks a major departure for Sheindlin. America is accustomed to seeing her in a robe behind the bench for small-claims and less consequential disputes between neighbors, lovers, friends and foes. But “Justice on Trial” gives the famed legal eagle a chance to preside over episodes that take a hard look at the foundational cases for legal pillars that Americans hold dear — such as the right to due process, under the 14th Amendment, and the protection from self-incrimination allowed under the Fifth Amendment.

Given the nation’s political climate, the decision to scrutinize law enforcement decisions and the conduct of prosecutors and judges could be seen as an incendiary move. Sheindlin isn’t worried. She believes the value of picking apart foundational decisions will only help viewers who don’t have law degrees understand how the system is designed to function.

“The thread that runs through it is, the more things change, the more they stay the same,” Sheindlin says. “The world’s problems are very rarely solved. They just put on a different outfit.”

She adds that she leaves it up to viewers to draw their own conclusions.

“What I say is, ‘What do you think?’ I’m making you think. I’m not giving you an answer,” she says. “I’m really not putting in my two cents.”

“Justice on Trial” marks the third Sheindlin production for Prime Video since she relocated to the streamer in 2021 after 25 years with CBS and the syndicated hits “Judge Judy” and “Hot Bench.” She launched on Amazon platforms with “Judy Justice” in late 2021. “Tribunal Justice,” featuring a three-judge panel hearing cases, arrived in 2023.

Right in the opening sequence of “Justice on Trial,” Sheindlin burnishes her bona fides, reminding viewers of her life before “Judge Judy” hit big in 1996. She was a judge in Manhattan for 15 years before the series bowed, and she was a lawyer for 17 years before that. Despite her role as an officer of the court and her faith in American jurisprudence, Sheindlin’s experience on both sides of the bench taught her that “justice doesn’t always end up feeling just.”

The fact that so many of the cases hinge on themes, issues and controversies that resonate today has only reinforced her faith in the show’s concept. The show weaves in scenes of re-enactments of the crimes featuring actors who then play the same roles in the legal proceedings. TV judges Dan Mentzer and Larry Bakman assume the roles of lead attorney for the prosecution and the defense, respectively. Those two square off using the basic arguments from the original cases. Sheindlin presides over the proceedings.

In the case histories involve appellate court hearings and rulings, the three-judge panel that emerges comprises the trio that preside over “Tribunal Justice”: Adam Levy, Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango. Sheindlin executive produces with her longstanding team that includes Randy Douthit, Amy Freisleben, David Carr and, of late, Casey Barber, who is her oldest grandchild. Sheindlin credits Barber with helping her execute her vision for a different kind of legal series. Barber joined Sheindlin in the TV business a few years after he graduated from law school.

“He’s a really smart kid,” Sheindlin says. “I love doing what I do.”