#Judge Judy on ‘PC police’ of cancel culture and her new show

On the heels of her new IMDb TV show, Judith Sheindlin, a k a Judge Judy, is sharing insights into all corners of her life, from decompressing with housework to her feelings about cancel culture and negotiating her record-breaking “Judge Judy” salary.

“I’m not a big fan of the PC police,” the 78-year-old told the Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview reflecting on the final taping of her 25 years as “Judge Judy” and upcoming production for her next venture, “Judy Justice.”

While “bad” people should be “prepared to pay the piper,” she said, there shouldn’t be so much tension around sharing personal takes.

“[To] have a fear of speaking your opinion, for fear of being put on somebody’s list and canceled? It’s a frightening place for America to be,” she added.

When asked about the biggest flaw in the US justice system, the longtime justice official said the “length of time that it takes for people to get a conclusion.” She believes it takes “too long” to reach a verdict, and blamed that on “a result of lazy judges or lawyers who have a financial interest in keeping a case going.”

However, Judy believes the verdict for Derek Chauvin, who was convicted on all charges in the murder of George Floyd in April, was swift — particularly because the world was watching.

“That’s what happens when you have a movie,” she said. “It wasn’t an issue as to what happened. And the judge, I think he was pretty straight-up. He didn’t duck and cover. The media wasn’t going to allow any delay, and rightfully so. The country wanted a resolution. It’s a different age now. If it’s a homicide, a robbery, a burglary … you often have it on video.”

Meanwhile, she finds housework far from intimidating — anxiety reducing, in fact.

“When I’ve had a frustrating day at work, which I do occasionally, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to get out the silver polish and do some frames around the house or find an old pair of earrings and clean them up,” the Brooklyn native told the publication. “I like to see things tied up in a bow. Perhaps that’s the reason for ending the show after 25 years.”

And when it comes to self-advocacy in the financial department, she also cleans up: Nearly two decades ago, she negotiated her immense salary — reportedly $47 million a season — by making clear to CBS that, while they needed her and her show, she did not need them. 

“I told the company that I worked for this: ‘I want to be more of a partner. Don’t treat me as a paid employee. I could make this show without you — I created a deal where I could do that — but you can’t make it without me. I can take Judy Sheindlin anywhere else. And good luck with you if you can find somebody else. Otherwise, let’s share the gift that this program has brought to both of us,’” she recalled. 

However, being a celebrity — and the money and power that comes with it — are not her primary pleasures in life.

“You need other things,” she told The Post in a December interview, calling her work her “anchor” but emphasizing that, “If you have a life other than being a celebrity, you don’t dwell on it. But if that’s the only thing that’s important to you — and you lose it — then you’ve lost your life.”