Judy Sheindlin became embroiled in a legal dispute with the newspaper company after an article claimed that the television judge had been advocating for a retrial of the Menendez brothers.
Last year, InTouch Weekly published an article, “Inside Judge Judy’s Quest to Save the Menendez Brothers Nearly 35 Years After Their Parents’ Murder.” It later appeared in its sister publication, the National Enquirer.
Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Galen Menendez, known as the Menendez brothers, became infamous for the brutal 1989 murders of their wealthy parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion.
The case captivated the nation with alleged abuse and cold-blooded violence.
Initially, the brothers claimed that their parents were killed by unknown intruders, possibly linked to organized crime. However, investigators grew suspicious when Lyle and Erik went on a lavish spending spree shortly after the murders.
Their trustworthiness further eroded when it was revealed that they had hired someone to delete their father’s updated will.
Erik eventually confessed to his psychologist, revealing that he and Lyle had committed the murders. The brothers were arrested in March 1990 and charged with first-degree murder.
Their first trial in 1993 became a media sensation as the defense argued that the brothers had suffered years of severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.
Erik testified that José had molested him since childhood, while Lyle described a controlling and violent household.
The Menendez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in a second trial in 1995, and they were sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996.
Judge Judy Slams Tabloid Magazines For Publishing False Story About Menendez Brothers
Judge Judy Sheindlin is setting the record straight after tabloid magazines falsely claimed she supported a retrial for convicted killers Erik and Lyle Menendez.
InTouch Weekly and the National Enquirer published an article last year which alleged that Sheindlin was advocating for a new trial.
JUDGE JUDY SUES 👩⚖️ "Judge Judy" Sheindlin is reportedly suing for defamation over two tabloid stories claiming she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted murdering their parents: https://t.co/tHtza6WEWj pic.twitter.com/C32zobJoE2
— 10 Tampa Bay (@10TampaBay) May 14, 2024
The story was entirely fabricated, prompting the TV judge to file a defamation lawsuit against Accelerate360 Media, the parent company of the publications.
She has not specified the amount of damages, but made it clear that it wouldn’t be cheap.
When you fabricate stories about me in order to make money for yourselves with no regard for the truth or the reputation I’ve spent a lifetime cultivating, it’s going to cost you.
Judy Sheindlin
When you’ve done it multiple times, it’s unconscionable and will be expensive. It has to be expensive so that you will stop.
Now, Sheindlin is making her stance on the case crystal clear. In an interview with USA Today, she firmly upheld the jury’s decision.
What we know about the Menendez brothers is that they killed both of their parents. As we know, after they killed their parents, they went on a buying spree. They got a jury trial, and they were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. They’ve done incredibly well in prison, but that doesn’t mean they get another chance. That is their sentence. Until Kitty Menendez can stand up before a judge and say, “Give them another chance,” the jury and the courts have spoken. Now you have my answer. I’m going to get a lot of flak for that.
Judy Sheindlin
Sheindlin dismissed any notion of a second chance while acknowledging that the brothers have reportedly behaved well in prison.
The lawsuit serves as a warning to tabloids that spreading false claims about public figures can come with serious legal consequences.
Nonetheless, newspapers falsely claimed she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and depression in 2017. It also mentioned she cheated her husband, Jerry Sheindlin, but the newspaper retracted and apologized for the stories.
Judge Judy Is A Trailblazer In Television Justice
Judith Susan Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, is a pioneering figure in the courtroom television industry.
She became a household name during her 25-year reign on the hit show “Judge Judy” with her sharp wit, no-nonsense attitude, and unwavering sense of justice.
There's no laugh track in this courtroom! #judgejudy
— Judge Judy (@JudgeJudyTV) April 13, 2023
WATCH 👀 >> https://t.co/vhiOBl7oIK pic.twitter.com/HKW7q6pf4j
Before her television fame, Sheindlin built an impressive legal career.
She worked as a prosecutor in New York’s family court system before being appointed as a family court judge in Manhattan in 1982.
She is renowned for her tough but fair rulings and earned a reputation for cutting through excuses and holding people accountable.
Sheindlin’s television career skyrocketed when Judge Judy premiered in 1996, and her straightforward style made her a pop culture icon.
The show quickly became the highest-rated courtroom program in history, earning her a Guinness World Record in 2015 for the longest-serving TV arbitrator.
Similarly, in 2019, she received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her contributions to daytime television.
Sheindlin didn’t retire even after Judge Judy ended in 2021. Instead, she launched Judy Justice, a streaming court show on Amazon Freevee, proving her enduring appeal.
The show won a Daytime Emmy in 2022.
Beyond the courtroom, she is a bestselling author and philanthropist, supporting causes like children’s welfare and animal rights.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joseph Lyle Menendez was born on January 10, 1968, and Erik Galen Menendez was born on November 27, 1970.
- Erik attended Beverly Hills High School and displayed exceptional talent in tennis, ranking 44th in the US as a junior.
- He entered the 1989 Boys’ Junior National Tennis Championship about two weeks before the murders.
