Judge Judy's Son Adam Levy Shares Her Blunt Advice for New Show

Adam Levy, son of television personality Judge Judy Sheindlin, is stepping into the spotlight with his new syndicated reality court series, "Adam's Law." He recently shared the straightforward advice his mother imparted to him before he officially took over the gavel.

Sheindlin, 83, who created the show and serves as an executive producer through her company Queen Bee Productions, advised her 57-year-old son, "You've got this. I know you've got this. Have fun, do what you do, don't let people lead you to places where you don't feel comfortable, be true to yourself, and don't screw this up."

Levy is presiding as the judge on "Adam's Law," which premiered on September 14. The show is produced and distributed in national syndication by CBS Media Ventures.

Before his television career, Levy had a lengthy legal background, practicing law for 25 years and serving two terms as the District Attorney for Putnam County, New York. He previously appeared as a judge on Sheindlin's Amazon Prime Video series "Tribunal Justice" and "Justice on Trial."

Levy admitted to experiencing pressure to live up to his mother's legacy and a concern about being labeled a "nepo baby." He recalled feeling nervous during his television debut on "Tribunal Justice," not because of the legal work itself, but due to a fear of disappointing his mother and a sense of obligation to prove his qualifications.

"I didn't want to disappoint her. And I knew that there were a lot of other people, a lot of other lawyers and judges that were just as qualified, if not more so, to be in the seat I was in," Levy stated. "And, but for my DNA, I would still be trying cases someplace else."

He added, "I just wanted people to give me a fair shot, a chance." Levy found relief when Sheindlin told him he was "a natural" after seeing him on "Tribunal Justice," saying, "When she saw me for the first time, she said, 'There, now you know. Now you've got nothing to worry about.'"

Sheindlin, known for her no-nonsense courtroom style that propelled her to fame after a 1993 "60 Minutes" segment, starred in "Judge Judy" for 25 seasons from 1996 to 2021. Following the conclusion of "Judge Judy," she returned with "Judy Justice" in November 2021. She recently announced that the October finale of "Judy Justice" would mark her retirement from appearing on television.

Levy described his mother as actively involved in mentoring him, noting that while she hasn't criticized his rulings, she has sometimes offered alternative approaches to cases. "She's hands-on. She's not retired. She is rewired. So, while she may not be in front of the camera anymore, that does not mean that she has removed herself from the courtroom genre," Levy said.

He elaborated on their collaborative process, stating, "She and I discussed many of the cases before they are tried and when they are taped. We will go over the facts of the case. We will go all over the legal issues, the moral issues, we will go over the background information that I have uncovered and how, if at all, to use it during the trial." This practice mirrors a long-standing family tradition.

Levy noted that his judicial style differs from his mother's, though some similarities remain. "It is still about taking personal responsibility for yourself, doing the right thing, telling the truth when you're in court — all of those things are the same," he explained. "The way that I go about it though is my own style. It's a little more understanding at times, I think, but when someone comes in to court and misrepresents their case or lies, that's when you'll see the DNA come out."

He also shared how his upbringing influenced his approach to litigants, noting that his mother's tough demeanor on television reflected their home life. "Hundreds of millions of people have watched her over the last 30 years. And they see a tough lady, a tough judge, cutting through the nonsense, and they see it every day. I, when I saw her on TV, would say, 'Yeah, that's exactly who I grew up with. Exactly.'"

However, Levy also recalled times when he told the truth as a child and his mother didn't believe him. "And I remembered how that felt. And so with that in mind, as I'm doing the show now, as part of my own style, is not to so quickly reject something someone says if it sounds or if it would seem to be inconsistent with common sense."

This sentiment led Levy to make a format change for "Adam's Law" compared to his mother's shows. He insisted on litigants providing their evidence before the show so he could review it thoroughly. "I was able to spend a little more time or no — I could spend a lot more time," Levy said. "Sometimes it would take me a day, one full day, to review one case that would end up 17 minutes on TV."

When asked who would be more likely to show mercy between him and his mother, Levy responded, "I would. Because she has never been on the other end of her takedown. I have. I needed mercy from her, so I'm probably more likely to give it than she is."

"Adam's Law" airs weekdays in syndication, with local listings available on the show's official website.