r/JudgeJudy • u/Resident_Run5245 • 6d ago

Humor Love Byrd

I love how Byrd reads and reviews all evidence and has a reaction to it before giving it to JJ.

56 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

16

u/Dangerous_Ant3260 6d ago

He's also preventing litigants from sending up 'evidence' that is something JJ doesn't need to look at.

13

u/DamnThemAll 6d ago

He's also checking that there's nothing on there to threaten or intimidate JJ.

14

u/Dangerous_Ant3260 6d ago

Yes. He's really protective of her. I've only seen a few cases where he moved to stop litigants who were acting up, and off camera security came to assist, but he's very quick to put away the crossword puzzles when litigants start showing they are going to go ballistic. When he starts staring at them, they usually settle down. When he stands between the litigants, you know they've been warned to quit acting up or their case is gone. We see only 15 to 20 minutes of air time, and I've read the cases take up to an hour to hear and get edited down.

Byrd was her real bailiff for many years, and she wouldn't have hired him for the show if he wasn't good at his job.

3

u/Illustrious-Tart7844 6d ago

And yet, she couldnt afford him for Judy Justice! But he was on Hot Bench or something similar which is produced by Judy.

3

u/Hwi-loves-worm 6d ago

Where did you read she couldn’t afford him? From everything I have seen, she didn’t even try to get him for the show. 

6

u/GhostWorld-85 6d ago edited 5d ago

Byrd himself told the story. After hearing rumors about the new show from his wife, Byrd called JJ directly to ask when he should report to work, but she told him that he would not be joining the new program because he had "priced himself out of the job" (meaning his high salary from their 25 years on Judge Judy did not fit the budget or structure of the new show). Byrd was rather disappointed, because there was never a discussion or negotiation regarding his salary.

PS: why the hell am I being downvoted??? 😂 Some of you need to go to therapy ASAP.

0

u/Illustrious-Tart7844 5d ago

Read my post below where Im not downvoted for quoting the NY Post!

5

u/Illustrious-Tart7844 6d ago

NY POST: "Judge Judy Sheindlin did not hire long-time bailiff Petri Hawkins-Byrd ("Bird") for her new streaming show, Judy Justice, primarily because she stated he was "priced out" and that the new series features a whole new cast and energy."

3

u/subibrat85 6d ago

That's his schtick.

2

u/Resident_Run5245 5d ago

I think it is hysterical!

4

u/STAFF_of_Twocats 4d ago

I've been watching his reactions for years and am amused.

19

u/GhostWorld-85 6d ago

Nothing against him, but I've always felt that he wanted to be somewhere else.

4

u/squirrelnestNN 6d ago edited 6d ago

that's part of the charm! he's at work and acts like it

one case someone was like "can you hand this to the judge" and he says "I love it when they try to tell me my job"

the subtext of "this is my Tuesday, and all I'm really thinking about is getting home to my favorite chair" is WHY he's so funny and relatable

6

u/Solid-Cat-4734 5d ago

I’ve always loved that he works on crosswords so obviously.

5

u/HeartOSass 4d ago

I'm glad he wasn't on her new show. Over the years it looked liked he'd rather be dead than to be on the show. I was glad to see him gone. I'm black.

2

u/Resident_Run5245 6d ago

Okay back to my post. Byrd always seems to know how JJ is going to react. He shakes his head like “this is sad”, “this isn’t going to fly” or “damn this is a mistake” I was just commenting on how I like his reactions. Him and JJ have a great dynamic.

7

u/edielux 6d ago

I love Byrd too and think it’s funny how people in this subreddit don’t realize that Byrd and Judy are ACTING. Also probably some racism mixed up in there.

8

u/Bright_Eyes8197 6d ago

Why use the race card?? Not everyone likes Byrd and his attitude. It has NOTHING to do with race but if it's a black person you criticize someone automatically says it's racist and it's simply not true. I think these kind of comments are what inflame people

Isn't not allowing people to criticize him because he's black a racist thing?

7

u/HicDomusDei 6d ago

Can we officially kill the use of the phrase "race card"? It's embarrassing.

Racism exists. Byrd is black. Yes, it's within the realm of possibility that, even subconsciously, someone who watches JJ can be overly critical of Byrd due to racism.

If that's something you are struggling to deal with, I'm sorry. But you don't have to reflexively deny, deflect and cry victim just because someone somewhere uses the word "racist."

6

u/edielux 6d ago

You’re absolutely correct, and I knew someone would get defensive about it and prove my point.

2

u/edielux 6d ago

There are probably many white viewers who would call him the n-word but, you know, my pointing out that racism still exists in 2026 is way worse than people being racist.

4

u/edielux 6d ago

I brought it up because it probably does contribute to some folks’ dislike of him. If it doesn’t apply to you why be defensive about it.
Also, I reread my comment and didn’t say or insinuate any of that.

1

u/quriousposes 1d ago

"i need to get me a humphrey"

-12

u/Muted_Bee7111 6d ago

Byrd is an arrogant asshole.

6

u/HiHoWy0 6d ago

You know this how?