A gift from Judge Judy Sheindlin to the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism will provide a forum space dedicated to public debate and advancing intellectually rigorous, civil and healthy discourse.

The Sheindlin Forum, inside Wallis Annenberg Hall, will be named for Judy and her husband, Jerry Sheindlin, and will be unveiled at a ceremony Tuesday. Outfitted with new technology and infrastructure for debate events, it will host the USC Annenberg Debate Series, new public programming designed to bring divergent viewpoints together. The series will feature debates among high-profile thought leaders, students and local high school students.

Universities have a unique responsibility and opportunity to encourage the civil exchange of ideas, said USC Annenberg Dean Willow Bay.

“We want USC Annenberg to lead these conversations and be a center of well-informed and substantial dialogue and debate,” Bay said. “This is at the heart of the intellectual and academic experience we provide, and the Sheindlins’ generous gift will allow us to expand our debate programs not only at USC, but into our wider community.”

From court to TV

A former New York Family Court judge of 25 years, Judy Sheindlin retired from the bench in 1996 to launch the syndicated TV program Judge Judy. Since 1998, the show has retained its ranking as the most-watched show in daytime television. Jerry Sheindlin is a former judge of the Supreme Court of New York.

A closed mind is a dangerous thing. Judy Sheindlin

“USC Annenberg should set the example of how civilized debate and the free exchange of ideas by well-meaning people must be honored on college campuses,” Judy Sheindlin said. “When one searches for the truth, one should be armed with all available information. A closed mind is a dangerous thing.”

In addition to backing capital improvements, the gift will fund an endowment that will support Sheindlin Debate Fellows — graduate students who are passionate about the field of debate. Fellows will run debate programs at USC, including the USC Annenberg Debate Series. Besides hosting experts and student leaders, the new debate series also will involve youth from local public high schools.

The gift also will provide a venue and a platform for USC’s Trojan Debate Squad, one of the oldest and most successful college debate programs in the country. The program has led intercollegiate debate nationwide and many high-profile public events, including the famous 1935 debate between USC and Wiley College featured in the 2007 film The Great Debaters.

More stories about: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism