Judge Judy gave a blunt answer to people who want to remake the United States: “If you don’t like this country, go somewhere else.” The television judge called America the greatest country in the world and credited it with giving her opportunities throughout her career. Her remarks came during a wide-ranging interview ahead of the 30th anniversary of “Judge Judy”. She went on to defend the capitalism and entrepreneurship she believes helped make the country successful.
Judith Sheindlin spoke with USA TODAY at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut, as CBS prepared a September 22nd special celebrating three decades since her courtroom show debuted. The interview covered her years on television, her family and the projects she plans to pursue as she steps back from appearing on camera. When the conversation turned to the country’s future, Sheindlin used her home to explain how she thinks about America. That comparison led directly to the remarks featured in the clip.
“I consider America my home. America has been good to me. I think that it’s the greatest country in the world,” Sheindlin said. She has spent much of her adult life in the public eye, first as a New York family court judge and then as one of television’s most recognizable personalities. Her work in family court drew national attention after profiles in the Los Angeles Times and on “60 Minutes” in 1993. In the interview, she spoke plainly about the country in which she built that career.
“Don’t come to the greatest country in the world, the most successful country in the world, and say, ‘I want to change it,’” Sheindlin said. “There are other countries that are the something else that you want. Go there.” Her comments were part of a longer discussion about socialism in the USA TODAY interview. Sheindlin argued that people who prefer another country’s approach to running an economy should consider living under that economic system themselves.
Sheindlin followed that argument with a defense of American capitalism. “We are a capitalist country that revered excellence, that revered entrepreneurship,” she said, describing qualities she believes contributed to the nation’s achievements. She pointed to the polio vaccine and companies including Apple and Amazon as examples of what American ambition has produced. She also mentioned advances in artificial intelligence, acknowledging that people may have differing opinions about the technology while including it among those achievements.
Her comments moved from business to the differences between individuals. Sheindlin described people with varying talents, physical traits and abilities as she challenged the idea that everyone should have the same outcome. She illustrated the point by contrasting tall and short people, as well as people who are musical with those who aren’t. It was a familiar kind of argument from a woman whose television career was built on making quick judgments about individual behavior and responsibility.
Watch Judge Judy defend America here:
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The anniversary arrives as Sheindlin prepares to change her role in television. “Judge Judy” premiered in 1996 and ran for 25 seasons, introducing her courtroom style to viewers around the world. She told USA TODAY that she plans to step away from her regular on-camera work while remaining involved in other projects. Those plans include an animated series called “Judyverse”, which she writes, produces and voices, as well as work connected to her son Adam Levy’s courtroom show, “Adam’s Law”.
Sheindlin also spoke about the way Americans treat one another. She said she believes many people in the middle of the country look back fondly on the 1950s because they miss a greater sense of respect. She cited violence, antisemitism, racism and political arguments that make it difficult for some families to speak civilly. “They long for a time when people respected each other,” she said.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.