Judge Judy's Longtime Bailiff Explains Why He's Not On Her New Show

When Judy Justice premieres on IMdB TV, you see someone important missing.

Petri Hawkins-Byrd, the longtime bailiff from Judge Judy, will not be joining Judy Sheindlin on her new series, and in a new interview, is opening up as to why.

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The 63-year-old actor is known for his role as the bailiff, which he originated in 1996, until the show’s end this year.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Petri admitted that he had no idea about Judy‘s new show until she announced it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last year.

“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,” he shared with the outlet.

He also revealed that he didn’t really have time to focus on her new show though, as his wife, producer Makita Bond-Byrd, underwent brain surgery and chemotherapy.

“It wasn’t until July that I called the judge and asked, ‘Hey, should I look for something else or am I included in the Judy Justice project?’”

Petri adds that Judy “informed me I was not being asked to come along on the project. I didn’t inquire as to why, that’s her choice. But she did inform me that fundamentally, I was priced out as the new bailiff on her new show. My salary would have been too much. I was curious: How would she know? She didn’t ask me. She didn’t give me an opportunity to have accepted a lower salary.”

Judy herself will have a “massive” salary for the series.

The trailer for Judy Justice featured a brand new bailiff, played by Kevin Rasco, who was Judy‘s personal security while she was on Judge Judy.

She has since made a statement on the bailiff shakeup.

“Byrd is terrific and we had a great 25-year run. This is a whole new program with a whole new cast and an exciting energy,” it read.

“I don’t think she understood how confused and dismayed I was after being there for 25 years,” Petri continued about the hurt he felt from the situation, “from the beginning of her career, and not being at least given the opportunity to say whether or not I wanted to continue that relationship.”

Judy Justice will start streaming on November 1.