Following her time in the nation’s capital, she returned to New York to pursue a law degree.

She graduated in 1965 and passed the state bar the same year. She was hired shortly after graduation as a corporate lawyer for a cosmetic firm. But within two years she realized the life of a corporate lawyer was not for her and she left her job.

After leaving her job she took on a new role: mother of two.

By 1972 she switched roles yet again and worked as a prosecutor for New York’s family court system. After making a name for herself in the court system, the mayor, Ed Koch appointed her as a criminal court judge, and within four years she was promoted to supervising judge within the Manhattan division of family court.

By the early 1990s, her no-nonsense attitude in New York began attracting nationwide attention.

Sheindlin appeared in The Los Angeles Times and 60 Minutes, and from there her career in television took off.

Judge Judy was born.

During her run, Sheindlin was offered a cameo in the 2001 movie, Legally Blonde.

“They reached out through someone and said, ‘We’d like you to be the judge,’” she told E News.

The 81-year-old didn’t specify why she declined the cameo, but did say it was the “biggest mistake” in her career.

“Not playing that part in that movie.”

“Sometimes you have to take the adventure and run with it,” she added.