In the realm of daytime television, few shows have captured the hearts of viewers quite like Judge Judy. Known for its compelling courtroom drama and relatable cases, the show also boasted a bailiff who played a significant role in its success, Petri Hawkins-Byrd. For over 25 seasons, Byrd stood front and center, as he brought a different kind of flavor and swag to the judicial proceedings of Judge Judy Sheindlin’s court.
Byrd was not just someone who stood in the background during the proceedings, he was, without a doubt, an integral presence on the show. He helped to add authenticity to the program with his no-nonsense demeanor. Byrd, who holds the title of longest-lasting bailiff on a courtroom series, was more of a solid sidekick to Judge Sheindlin.
It was evident how she was certainly secure in the fact that Byrd had her back with his always-on-the ready stance just in case a litigant got out of pocket; this was what endeared him to audiences.
In a candid interview Petri told the truth and nothing but the truth about his Brooklyn beginnings, personal battles, and life as one of Americas most beloved bailiffs.
50BOLD: We’ve watched you for over 25 seasons. You’re one of America’s favorite bailiffs on the top-rated court show of all times, Judge Judy. Yet, we know nothing about your beginnings. Take us back to where it all started. Where were you born? Did you come from a large family?
Byrd: Well, I was born in Brooklyn, NY.
50BOLD: I knew it; so was I! You remind me of my dad and some people I grew up around. I was saying to a friend of mine how you remind me of a Brooklynite.
Bryd: I was born in Kings County Hospital.
50BOLD: Me too! I was born in Kings County as well. I’m from the Howard Projects in Brownsville.
Byrd: Okay, I know where they are located.
50BOLD: My years are probably a lot older than yours. I was born in ‘61.
Byrd: [laughs] Hey kid, let me help you out. I was born in ’57.
50BOLD: Really?
Byrd: My birthdate is November 29, 1957.
50BOLD: Okay. Did you come from a large family?
Byrd: I’m the oldest of four. So, we were a kind of mid-range family.
50BOLD: So, what made you the family stand out?
Byrd: The only thing about me was that I had a love for school. I was placed in gifted classes. Of course, they were in the public school system, but I lucked out. We were in Crown Heights and then, moved to Bushwick. Upon moving, I attended P.S. 151 which was about ten blocks away from where I lived. In fact, I had to take a bus to get there. In the meantime, we were waiting for a new school to be built—P.S. 45. It was going to be a different kind of school. You know, it was brand new with new teachers, new classrooms, libraries, and all of that. And when I went over to that school, I was placed in gifted classes. So, during 5th and 6th grades in particular, we were given the opportunity to take music lessons. I studied the clarinet. The school offered me a great opportunity to intellectually and creatively express myself at a young age.
When I went to Junior High School I continued in gifted classes and took music, art and all of that. And then I tested for a great high school called Brooklyn Tech and I got accepted. I soon found out, however, that my calling wasn’t in the technical field. [laughs]
50BOLD: I’m familiar with the high school.
Byrd: I mean I couldn’t drive a nail into a piece of wood. [laughs] I had no electronic prowess, none of that stuff. But I soon discovered my propensity toward the arts—theater, poetry, and all that. I wound up getting kicked out of Brooklyn Tech and graduated 6 months early from a school in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
I attended Hostos Community College which was up in the Bronx. And while at the college, I discovered the power of protest. The college was something like 85% Hispanic, and probably about 10% Black at the time. Due to budget cuts, the city was trying to shut the college down and we weren’t having it. So, us students took over the streets. We protested for an entire semester from February to June to try and save that college. We marched and took over the City University office. We even chained ourselves to the chancellor’s office. [laughs] We went on protest bus rides up to Albany. We struck out for justice and obtained it.
And that school is still going strong today.
I then transferred to John Jay College of Criminal Justice, because I was interested in becoming a lawyer at the time. It just seemed natural to me to attend John Jay to obtain my bachelor’s degree. At John Jay, I took a test and secured a job at the Manhattan Family Court and while there, I met my future TV boss, Judge Judy Sheindlin.
I worked at the Manhattan Family Court for about 5 years and then moved to California. I was separated from my wife at the time. She moved back to her native California. I went to visit my wife one Christmas to pursue and possibly reconcile with her. God said to me, ‘Move West young man!’ So, in 1990, I moved to Northern California. I left law enforcement and began working as a high school counselor.
On one particular day, I was on a coffee break when I stumbled upon Liz Smith’s newspaper gossip column where I happened to see a mention of Judge Judy Sheindlin. The article stated, how she said there was a TV show in development for her. Well, I wrote Judge Sheindlin a letter and congratulated her. At the end of the letter I jokingly mentioned, ‘Hey, if you ever need a bailiff, I still look good in uniform!’ Well, she called me about 3 weeks after I had sent her the letter to thank me for it. And she then went on to say, ‘I know you were kidding, but we do need a bailiff!’ She said the TV show was unscripted. They had tried to fit the bailiff role with an actor, but he didn’t understand how Judge Sheindlin operated. She said, ‘As I recall, you’re kind of crazy.’ And I said, ‘I’m still kind of crazy.’ And she said, ‘Well, if you’re crazy enough to try this, I’ll recommend you for the job.’
50BOLD: Wow! What a great story!
Byrd: And true to her word, she did recommend me. Six months later, I was flown to LA for an interview. I went on the interview and was told that day that the job was mine if I wanted it. I accepted the role. My momma ain’t raised no fool, so I took a leave of absence from my job just in case things didn’t work out. My momma also always said there was work at the Post Office. [laughs]
50BOLD: Okay, I’m a retired postmaster, by the way. [laughs] and I was given that same message by my father: ‘If you do not go to school, then you had better enlist in the military or secure a federal job!
Byrd: You’re right. [laughs]
50BOLD: I spent 37 years with the postal service, so you know it’s something how fate works, but I’m all too familiar with the stuff you’re discussing! It’s just amazing how your Judge Judy situation happened. It was supposed to happen. I really believe in fate. What was that first project meeting like with Judge Judy?
Byrd: I was sitting in her chambers, when she entered the room. I mean, you know she’s always been Judge Judy. She’s always been herself. She said, ‘Officer Byrd, how are you?’ I responded, ‘Oh, good Judge, how are you doing?’ And so she says, ‘Oh good. Did you hear from the people in LA?’ I said, ‘Yes I did Judge.’ She said, ‘Okay. You know, right now, they’re still in the preliminary stages, and getting some things together, but you should be hearing back from them soon. They’re going to want to meet you.’ And I said, ‘Well Judge, I just want to let you know, that no matter what happens, thank you for at least thinking of me.’ And she said, ‘No, no, no, you don’t understand. If I say I want you, they’re going to hire you.’ I said, ‘Okay, I believe you.” [laughs]
The next time I saw Judge Judy was actually on the set in Hollywood. When the show premiered, it caught on like gangbusters. I believe we were in 95% of the syndicated markets! She just took off like wildfire.
50BOLD: She sure did! I am a huge fan and used to record her show every single day. Well, she definitely put you on the map! Now, you’ve done quite a bit of acting. You’ve been on shows like The Parkers, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Everybody Hates Chris. You’ve also appeared in numerous films like A Deeper Love, Playing Mona Lisa, In the Eyes of a Killer, and Fugitive Hunter. You even had a voiceover on the animated TV series—The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. You also sing; you are truly a man of many talents! I was on YouTube and actually stumbled across you singing at the Shrine Auditorium in LA. You sang one of my favorite songs, What a Wonderful World. I was blown away! You were definitely destined for the arts!
Byrd: And this is what I would like to relay more than anything. There are some things that you’re destined to do and no matter how much you try to avoid it, it’s going to happen.
I enjoy singing. You know, I have people approaching me now about singing a few of the classics for an album. But I told them I want to do what I call Byrd’s B sides. I want to perform music by great artists who weren’t that popular.
I remember that as kids during the holidays, we would lip sync to records. We used a banana as a microphone.
50BOLD: I remember my siblings and I used a banana or hairbrush, you know, as a microphone to belt out songs. [laughs] You sound as if you had a great childhood. I tell you, I’m grateful for mine, because I have so many fond memories growing up in the projects of Brooklyn, it was just a great time. Everyone got along.
Byrd: Your friends were right there.
50BOLD: Yeah, friends I still have today.
Byrd: Yes sir, yes sir!
50BOLD: What would you say is your secret to maintaining your career and for so long?
Byrd: Well, you know, I can humbly say to you, man, that a lot of it was just God having a purpose for this show, and for my being on it. No one could have predicted the show’s popularity. It has sustained its popularity.
50BOLD: You have a great life that so many people would want. You manage to maintain a kind of no-nonsense attitude in the courtroom. Was there ever a time when one of the litigants really pushed your buttons to the point where you had to get Brooklyn on them? [laughs]
Byrd: [laughs] Well, I’ll be honest with you, Russ, I never lost it because I’m the guy who is the forgiving type. Now, there were a few moments where people have tried me. There is a ‘Best Moments of Byrd’ on YouTube that highlight a few moments that were a little tense. I’ve always kept my cool but definitely got my point across.
50BOLD: The New York Times labeled you as a guard dog to the pit bull. And Judge Judy is obviously tough and has never changed, as far as I can see. Like you said, she always seemed to be this way. I just think maybe she has gotten a little tougher in later years.
Byrd: I was always fascinated by her wit. She is such a smart-ass. I could say that now you know. And I say this with all humility. She’s a smart-ass and funny.
50BOLD: She’s hilarious.
Byrd: But the other thing is that she’s always been fair, and she’s always been steady with what she thinks. I also tell people all the time that she’s honest. We’ve always had respect for one another.
50BOLD: Now, Judge Judy ended after 25 seasons and she went on to host the other Judge Judy show, and didn’t asked you to join the show. What gives?
Byrd: Right.
50BOLD: As a fan, the move infuriated me. I know many people could not understand how she didn’t take you on the next leg of her television journey. Were you surprised by her decision?
Byrd: I was! Here’s the thing, I was surprised by her decision, but I fully supported her right to have who she wanted as a bailiff. I also knew what a lot of people didn’t know that it was an economic decision on her part, you know.
50BOLD: Okay.
Byrd: The bottom line was that she wanted to go in a new direction. And that new direction meant adding her granddaughter, and a court reporter that nobody has found necessary.
50BOLD: Not at all!
Byrd: And a new bailiff? You know, listen…
50BOLD: No personality! Byrd, the show went in a totally different direction and to me, it doesn’t work. I’m not a fan of the show. You were a true staple on Judge Judy, and when you didn’t show up on the new show, I was like ‘What the hell is going on?’ How did the move genuinely make you feel?
Byrd: Just to be honest man, you know… I thought we were like Batman and Robin.
50BOLD: Me too!
Byrd: My wife was a producer on the show, and she couldn’t understand my not receiving a phone call. So, let me give you the whole scenario. We stopped taping Judge Judy for CBS Paramount on April 15th, 2021. On April 16th, the very next morning, my wife underwent brain surgery.
50BOLD: Oh no!
Byrd: She had a tumor. So, I really didn’t concentrate on what was to come regarding the show.
50BOLD: Right.
Byrd: I figured, hey, you know, we’re going to be in reruns or whatever the case may be. I had some people who were trying to fashion a court show with me as the mediator. But in the meantime, I was just solely focused on my wife’s health.
50BOLD: Understandably.
Byrd: Several months later, my wife was wondering why no one had called me from Judge Judy‘s camp about the new show. I didn’t want to call Judge Judy to inquire about the show because I thought she had my number. My wife kept insisting that I pull the trigger first, so I gave in. When I called Judge Judy, she asked about my wife. And so, we had a little conversation. I said, ‘Judge, I’m just going to get to the point. I’m curious to know if I should expect to hear from your people about the new show?’ And she said, ‘Well Byrd….’ And as soon as I heard ‘Well,’ I knew. I was born at night, and not last night. She went on to say, ‘You know, we’re trying to go in a different direction. Quite frankly, your salary is out of the range of our budget for the bailiff.’ And so that line of bullshit, you know.
50BOLD: Wow, their loss for sure!
Byrd: I was like, ‘Okay, that’s fine.’ Remember the Will Smith and Chris Rock incident, well, on that same morning, I received a text from Judge Judy. She asked if I had time to talk? She called me and said, ‘I was wondering if you would be willing to do another court show.’ Now, I’m thinking in the back of my mind, you know, was this her way of saying that she might have gotten it all wrong? She was asking me to be the bailiff on another court show.
50BOLD: Tribunal Justice.
Byrd: Tribunal Justice. Right!
50BOLD: I liked that show. I’m a court show junkie; I watch them all.
Byrd: We started doing Tribunal Justice which was produced by Judge Judy.
50BOLD: Now, just curious, after so many years, are you and Judge Judy friends? Would you visit each other’s homes?
Byrd: I’ve been to her house one time.
50BOLD: Well, alright now! [laughs]
Byrd: We weren’t friends when we were actually working in the court (in NY), and the relationship didn’t change when we got to Hollywood. We have never gone out to dinner. We’re not friends; we’re associates. I became friends and family with all of the other people on the set.
50BOLD: And that’s usually the way it works, I’m sure.
Byrd: The higher up you go, the thinner the air gets, okay. You know, so that’s my warning to everybody who aspires to come to Hollywood or get into this entertainment business.
50BOLD: Great advice, great advice. But I want to switch gears a second. I am a fan of you and your beautiful wife, Makita, on Facebook. You guys just love to make people laugh with skits, quotes or jokes. Do you guys have any plans on taking your show on the road?
Byrd: Oh, boy, you know what, we’ve been inundated with requests to start our show up again. We did skits during the pandemic, you know. And I think we were just trying not to go crazy, stuck in the house with each other, and began doing different things. Our skits, you know, just took off. And so, we actually got a producer who was so brilliant in helping us put together a format. The format was that we would start off by talking about the events of the week like hot topics and then dive into other things.
50BOLD: The chemistry between the two of you is just bananas. Amazing!
Byrd: You know, we are 27 years apart.
50BOLD: Really? Black don’t crack. Every now and then, there might be a little crease, [laughs] but you know, it ain’t cracking. You guys really look great together!
Byrd: Makita is truly my hero. She’s my best friend. She makes me laugh. There are times when we will just break each other up and can’t stop laughing because we genuinely think the other person is funny. But we’re in talks right now to try and get our show back on. Everybody’s doing a podcast these days. So….
50BOLD: We need a show from you and Makita! Maybe even a sitcom!
Byrd: You know, I’m not going to lie to you, man. You are the first person to mention the sitcom thing. And I hadn’t thought about it.
50BOLD: Now, I’m sure you plan on doing more acting.
Byrd: As matter of fact, I did a show on Hulu called Clipped. And it received great reviews. It was a sports drama, TV miniseries that focused on the downfall of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling. It starred Laurence Fishburne and Ed O’Neill.
50BOLD: One final question. I always end my interviews with…when you get to those pearly gates, what will God say to you? And don’t tell me ‘Well done!’ [laughs]
Byrd: You know me too well already. [laughs] ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ [laughs] Okay, I got it. When I get to those pearly gates…. Are you ready for it?
50BOLD: I’m ready!
Byrd: When I get to those pearly gates he’ll say…‘My Niggah!’ [laughs]
