What Happened To Bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd After Judge Judy?

Summary Judge Judy Sheindlin offended Petri Hawkins Byrd i.e. Byrd by failing to include him in her spin-off, Judy Justice.

However, Byrd was welcomed back into the fold for another spin-off, Tribunal Justice.

Tribunal Justice has been renewed for two more seasons.

While Judith Susan Sheindlin (née Blum) is the face of Judge Judy, her bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd i.e. "Byrd" also played a large role on the show. He was Judy's bailiff for 25 years, and he really stood out on the series. Being Judy's bailiff changed Byrd's life, as he not only grew a large social media following, but also got to guest star on different television shows.

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The role of the bailiff typically consists of keeping order in the court. Although Byrd's official role on Judge Judy was to be the courtroom's bailiff, as the years went on, he seemed more like Judy's sidekick. See his memorable moments in the clip shown above. As Petri was a standout presence onscreen, he began to leverage his star power. He grew his career on and off the show. Byrd holds the title of longest-lasting bailiff on a courtroom series.

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Petri Hawkins Didn't Appear On Judy Justice Seasons 1 & 2

Judge Judy Said Hiring Byrd Would Be Too Expensive

Not long after Judge Judy season 25 came to an end in 2021, the famous judge returned to the courtroom for her new show, Judy Justice. To the surprise of many longtime viewers, Petri didn't join Judy for the new show, but this wasn't by choice. In fact, Petri wasn't asked to return for Judy Justice.

Around the show's premiere, it was unclear why Judy didn't want Byrd to film with her. However, he later revealed (via an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly) that she told him money was the reason why. That explanation didn't make complete sense as Judy's definitely earned some cash after eons as a high-powered TV star.

That's probably why Byrd didn't really believe her. She was certainly able to ensure that he got paid while he was appearing on Judge Judy. However, that was her explanation. Byrd revealed that Judy didn't give him the option of working for lower pay, which he might have been open to. He seemed quite bitter about not being offered a spot on the spin-off, as per the publication:

"My assumption is if you were going on to do something else, that you were at least going to ask me if I wanted to have the opportunity to audition for the role,"

On a telling note, Judge Judy shared her insights about the new series, saying that everything was brand-new, including a new cast. That desire to make the series fresh and different might have been the real reason why she didn't want Byrd on the series. Judy Justice has now aired two seasons.

While Byrd isn't a part of it, he is involved with another one of her spin-offs, Tribunal Justice.

Petri Hawkins Byrd Is Active On Instagram

He & Judge Judy Made Up After Their Feud

Although he is no longer on television, his followers can still stay up to date with him on social media. Over the years, Petri i.e. Byrd has gained over 30K followers on Instagram. According to his profile, the Brooklyn native currently resides in Los Angeles. He's quite active on the social media platform. Byrd is an activist and philanthropist. He's also a family man, sharing photos of his wife, Makita Bond Byrd (whom he wed on May 4, 2019), his children, and his grandkids.

Since Byrd got another gig with Judy, they've clearly buried the hatchet. Byrd was probably worried about his income. He has a family to take care of. His wife and kids are really important to him. So, it's not surprising that he would have been offended that Judy chose not to cast him in Judy Justice. However, with Tribunal Justice, she extended an olive branch which he was happy to accept. It's good that the two resolved their issues.

Who wants to live in a world where Judge Judy and Byrd aren't buddies? That's just unnatural and wrong.

So, what's Tribunal Justice anyway? Well, it's similar to Judge Judy's other efforts. However, she expanded the concept, bringing in more judges to spice things up. It could be argued that Judge Judy has more than enough spice on her own, but it was time to change it up. The show combines the judges' interactions with accusers and defendants with video footage that sheds more light on the process of ensuring that justice is served. As of now, the show has run for two seasons.

Tribunal Justice will enter syndication in 2026, and it's been renewed for two more seasons. Unless Judge Judy changes the cast, it looks like Byrd has it good right now. He's got a steady job that gives him enough money to look after his loved ones and make charitable donations. These things mean everything to him.

Byrd Renewed His Vows With His Wife On March 28, 2024

They Are Such A Cute Couple

In late March, Byrd had such a romantic moment. He renewed his vows with his wife - above, the couple look elated. They're beautifully dressed and making the most of such a wonderful moment. While Byrd hasn't been posting a lot lately, he's clearly making the most of his life. He's got his career, a stunning wife, and a stable, loving family. The bailiff was popular on Judge Judy, and he seems to be quite an impressive man offscreen - Byrd values what really matters.

Why Byrd Was So Memorable On Judge Judy

The Bailiff Was Iconic

There's no doubt that Judge Judy wouldn't have been the same without Bailiff Byrd in the courtroom each and every episode. He was the one to introduce each case, give instructions to the audience as to when to rise and be seated, pass along evidence, and more. Byrd also introduced and concluded each case.

Bailiff Byrd Is A Legend

He's Built A Great Life On & Offscreen

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Throughout the entire series, Byrd managed to remain neutral - he never let sympathy or any other emotion shows. Although Judge Judy was in charge of the courtroom, the hit show benefited from Byrd's presence as the bailiff.

Sources: Petri Hawkins Byrd/Instagram, Petri Hawkins Byrd/Instagram