Season 2 episodes of Tribunal Justice streaming soon on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video.
Fans of Tribunal Justice, the acclaimed TV courtroom show featuring real cases and a trio of judges, rejoiced at the return of bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd. Known affectionately as “Byrd,” he earned his stripes during the 25-year run of Judge Judy, solidifying his status as television’s longest-serving court show bailiff.
Tribunal Justice, created and produced by Judge Judy Sheindlin, premiered in 2023 on Amazon Freevee. In a recent interview with Reel Urban News, Byrd shared his thoughts on reentering the television justice system as one of two bailiffs.
“It’s a different vibe,” Byrd explained. “With Judge Judy, it was just me and the boss for 25 years. Now, I have three judges and an extra bailiff in the courtroom.”
The judges on Tribunal Justice include former New York Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango, Los Angeles civil litigator Tanya Acker, and former New York district attorney Adam Levy, who happens to be Judge Sheindlin’s son. The additional bailiff, Cassandra Britt, brings 31 years of law enforcement experience from her time with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Before his role on Tribunal Justice, Byrd starred in the 2024 Hulu series Clipped, inspired by the infamous Sterling affair that centered around Donald Sterling and the Los Angeles Clippers. Byrd recalls auditioning for the role of Alvin Gentry, an assistant coach alongside actors Laurence Fishburne and Ed O’Neil.
His courtroom expertise also opened doors in the animation realm. “I’m a guest on The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” Byrd said, sharing that he voices a character named Judge Byrd, who runs his own fictional courtroom show complete with a theme song.
In part one of our Tribunal Justice profile, Byrd is accompanied by his wife, Makita Bond, an Emmy nominated daytime television producer and a courageous brain tumor survivor. The couple, both New Yorkers, met and fell in love in Los Angeles. They have co-hosted the Facebook/YouTube talk show Bonding with Byrd and despite their age difference—Bond is 27 years Byrd’s junior—she describes him as her best friend.
