GAVEL-TOTING Judge Judy Sheindlin has made a half-hearted apology for remarks she made about heroin users - "Give em all dirty needles and let 'em die" - during her Australian visit late last year.

The comments, which she claimed were misquoted or taken out of context, landed the big-mouthed TV judge in hot water back in the US with several sponsors pulling out of her show.

"If they're looking for me to say I'm sorry to the families who lost children or loved ones [to AIDS or drugs] - absolutely," she said.

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Judge Judy Sheindlin lost sponsors to her television show when she said about drug users; " Give'em all dirty needles and let them die." She has since said the statement was a misquote or taken out of context. However, just in case she said something like that she told the New York Post she would apologize to families who lost loved ones to AIDS or drugs but not to groups that want to legalize drugs.

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Want TV Jurist to Apologize for 'Let 'em Die' Comment

NEW YORK (APBnews.com) -- Remarks by television's Judge Judy Sheindlin about drug addicts during a trip to Australia last year are continuing to haunt her back home.

Drug reform advocates are appealing to sponsors of the Judge Judy TV show to pull their advertising dollars from the syndicated series that the reformers would like to see taken off the air.

The organization, the Washington-based Drug Reform Coordination Network, also has launched the Dump Judge Judy Web site and is urging people to write to the show's sponsors and state legislators.

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Judge Judy is trying to shake-off a callous quote she made about drug users -- "Give 'em all dirty needles and let 'em die" -- that has been following her around since last fall.

The fiesty TV judge has lost several sponsors over the statement she now claims was either a misquotation or taken out of context.

"If they're looking for me to say I'm sorry to the families who lost children or loved ones [to AIDS or drugs] -- absolutely," Judy Sheindlin told The Post.

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LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, she's laying down the law. Her Honor Judge Judy for the full hour. We'll take your calls next on LARRY KING LIVE.

It's always great to welcome Judge Judy to LARRY KING LIVE. She has the highest-rated daytime syndicated show on television, consistently leading in every -- whenever they play her and what time period, she wins. And she leads in total numbers as well. It's the fastest-growing first-run series in all of the '90s.

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I am appalled that Judge Judy reckons she can get away with promoting giving injecting-drug users AIDS (December 21). It is her actions that are suspicious, not those of the many people who are working to prevent ALL people from dying from preventable diseases.

Judge Judy is a jerk.

Charles R. Darwin, Australia

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To The Editor:

I was so appalled at Judge Judy Sheindlin’s remark, “ Give’em all dirty needles and let ‘em die. I don’t understand why we think its important to keep them alive.” (PEOPLE Watertown Daily Times, Fri. 17 Dec. 1999), that I sent a letter to all the companies that sponsor her show stating that I would no longer buy any of their products as long as they support her irresponsible attitude!

This ugly, thoroughly repulsive personality is grandstanding on the stage of one of America's most devastating health tragedies. Her "solutions" represent the death of empathy, understanding, tolerance and hope for millions of shattered lives. Taken seriously, they would result in untold additional suffering and death.

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Yes, there's some justice in this world.

After years of watching America's abnormalities parade past Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, Ricki Lake, Montel Williams and Sally Jessy Raphael, finally somebody is telling these goofballs what we've all been thinking.

Judith Sheindlin, TV's Judge Judy.

My new hero.

"Something's wrong with you! Big time!" she shouts at a father whose teenage daughter ran away from home.

"You have no morals," she tells a bartender who took financial advantage of an older woman.

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Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse has worked for almost two decades to teach people how to reduce the risks of all drug use, using education about personal responsibility and decision making.

Our group is shocked at the recent remarks of TV's "Judge Judy" regarding intravenious drug users. She told an Australian audience that instead of attempting to control AIDS and hepatitis among drug addicts, we should "give them dirty needles and let them die." (A dangerous step along the path to dehumanization, Nov 30) This remark indicates both ignorance and hatred.

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Exclusive Interview: "Give Em All Dirty Needles"

TV's tough-talking Judge Judy has sparked a firestorm of protest by blasting needle-exchange programs and saying drug addicts should be given dirty syringes instead!

"Give 'em all dirty needles and let 'em die!" acid-tongued Judy Sheindlin declared during a press conference in Australia to promote her book Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever.

She also branded as "liberal morons" supporters of clean-needle programs, which are aimed at preventing AIDS-infected addicts from spreading the disease.

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JUDGE JUDY Sheindlin is embroiled in a shocking AIDS uproar that has made her the target of death threats and a campaign to take her off television.

The TV personality thrust herself into the middle of an explosive situation by telling an audience that drug addicts should be given AIDS-tainted needles.

What's more, when she had the chance to apologize, she further inflamed her critics by charging that anyone who thinks she really means what she says "is a fool."

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Bookmark: MAP's shortcut to Judge Judy Sheindlin items: http://www.mapinc.org/judy.htm

Judge Judy, the doyenne of syndicated self-righteousness, solidified that preeminence two weeks ago at a literary luncheon in Brisbane, Australia. On tour to promote her new book, "Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever," she suggested that instead of attempting to control AIDS and hepatitis by providing clean needles to drug addicts we should "give them all dirty needles and let them die."

Instead of resulting in universal derision (and, even more justly, a lightning bolt from the sky) this stunning proposal evoked cheers from her fans in the audience. But it got not a mention from the U.S. press (indeed, if it weren't for the people at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, I never would have heard about it). Granted, Judge Judy isn't William Rehnquist, but the sharp-tongued, dull-witted jurist's opinions -- doled out on her top-rated TV show -- are heard by millions more people than the Chief Justice's.

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The debate about needle supply to heroin addicts is an indulgence lead by "liberal morons", according to America's most popular television judge.

No point talking about how best to approach the problem since the solution is simple, said "Judge Judy" Sheindlin during her lunch time speech yesterday.

"Give 'em dirty needles and let 'em die," she said.

The audience at Brisbane's Carlton Crest breathed a collective "yes" and a cheer went up around the room.

The fast talking Brooklyn-born dynamo is touring her forthright opinions around the country to promote her book, 'Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever'.

"I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive," she said.



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Television's acerbic Judge Judy was callous and harmful in calling for heroin addicts to be given dirty needles to hasten their death, drug experts said today.

Popular United States judge and television personality Judy Sheindlin was reported in Brisbane's Courier-Mail yesterday as saying that the debate about needle supply to heroin addicts was led by "liberal morons".

She is reported to have said, to cheers from a Brisbane audience: "Give them all dirty needles and let them die."

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