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Judge Jeanine Pirro: Balancing Act at Fox News and Beyond
If juggling multiple responsibilities were an Olympic discipline, Fox News’ Judge Jeanine Pirro would undoubtedly be a gold medalist. The co-host of “The Five” embodies constant motion, adeptly handling numerous tasks simultaneously. A new exclusive interview delves into the life of this dynamic personality, revealing her motivations, fears, and aspirations.
A Glimpse Inside Judge Pirro’s World
By mid-afternoon on any typical weekday, Jeanine Pirro, 73 – a prominent figure on Fox News Channel as a co-host of the top-rated program, “The Five” for the past three years – is immersed in preparations for the live broadcast. Her opulent office, situated within News Corp’s Manhattan headquarters, serves as the backdrop for this intense pre-show activity.
This media outlet secured exclusive access into Pirro’s private workspace, a sanctuary where refined designer attire and fragrant candles subtly contrast with the judge’s sharp journalistic acumen and forthright manner.
The ensuing dialogue is remarkably frank and, at moments, deeply moving. In this rare glimpse behind the public persona, the resolute Pirro candidly addresses a wide range of topics, including her greatest apprehension and a lingering void in her life.
Confronting Age and Embracing Momentum
‘Avoid aging,’ she advises from behind her substantial oak desk, its surface overflowing with materials pertinent to the day’s program.
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Research documents compete for space alongside a jewelry assortment, ready for her selection before filming commences. Coffee mugs and scattered licorice candies, spilled from their container, are offered to visitors entering the judge’s domain.
‘Some individuals dream of slowing down. My concern is the potential day when I might be unable to continue this pace.’
‘I derive pleasure from every aspect of it. Consider it – you are informed on every critical matter. I operate around the clock. It’s always been my nature. Even as a young mother, balancing childcare, political campaigns, and serving as District Attorney – I managed a household while maintaining a relentless schedule.’
If spinning plates were an Olympic sport, Judge Jeanine Pirro would be a gold medalist. She is a study in perpetual motion – never doing just one thing when several can be tackled at once. (Pictured: Pirro getting her makeup and hair done whilst checking her phone).
By mid-afternoon on any given weekday, Pirro, 73 – who for the last three years has been a co-host of the Fox News Channel’s number one rated show, The Five – can be found prepping ahead of airtime in her plush office in News Corp’s midtown Manhattan headquarters.
Style and Presence
As Pirro speaks, seated at her desk, her hair is styled in curlers. Her makeup is flawlessly applied, and her slender figure is elegantly dressed in a cornflower blue Dior pantsuit. Designer ensembles from Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, and others hang along one wall. Below them, rows of high-heeled pumps are neatly arranged.
While commanding on screen, it’s only upon meeting Judge Pirro personally that one realizes her petite stature. Standing just over five feet tall, she utilizes a booster cushion on set to achieve eye-level with her fellow co-hosts.
Producers and team members frequently enter and exit her office during the conversation. A manila folder, filled with research materials, lies open on her desk. Two substantial yellow legal pads, bearing meticulous handwritten notes in both red and black ink, are positioned beside it.
She contemplates, ‘If I ever lose the desire for this demanding schedule, I’ll be content. But that’s not my character. Even in high school, I accelerated my studies to enter law school sooner. The prospect of this all ending genuinely frightens me, and that fear fuels my drive.’
Energy and Well-being
Pirro’s vitality is contagious, perhaps a result of her lifelong dedication to physical fitness. She regularly shares post-workout images on social media, often pictured on a gym floor with her dogs playfully interacting with her.
However, she acknowledges that her physical condition has changed over time.
‘It’s frustrating. I have a personal trainer. We engage in weight training, but my body has become more sensitive – I am unable to perform exercises as I once did. Consequently, my knee and ankle experience discomfort…it is disheartening.’
Gratitude and Family
Nonetheless, Pirro expresses thankfulness for her fulfilling and eventful life.
‘I maintain equilibrium,’ she states. ‘I have my dogs (standard poodle rescues Stella, Ted, and Red, and Bernedoodle, Snickerdoodle). I cherish my family. My son is getting married in June, and I adore my wonderful grandson, Cameron, who is three and enjoys visiting his Tata’s house.’
A huge presence on screen, it is only when you meet the judge in person that you realize just how diminutive she is. A smidge over five feet tall, on set she sits on a booster cushion (seen here) to elevate her to her co-host’s eye-level.
Pirro reflects, ‘If I don’t want to do all this anymore, then I’m good, but that’s not who I am. I mean, even in high school I skipped the last year because I was in a rush to get to law school. I absolutely fear the moment this all stops and that motivates me.’
Pirro’s energy is infectious – perhaps a byproduct of her lifelong commitment to fitness. She frequently posts images post-worked, lying on a gym floor, her dogs happily lapping at her face.
Seeking Companionship
Yet, she admits, a certain element remains absent.
‘I’ve been divorced for roughly 14 or 15 years and have been actively dating. I’ve encountered many exceptional men. Truly fabulous. However, whether it’s my personal evolution or theirs, none of those relationships have progressed.’
‘It’s peculiar – you desire dinner engagements, attendance at the opera… I recently had two black-tie functions – one at the New York Plaza, the other at the New York Public Library.’
‘And you recognize that when attending alone, a business-style suit feels appropriate, perhaps Dior or McQueen. But ideally, I would prefer to wear an elegant gown and attend with a companion.’
‘I aspire to embrace my femininity, to occasionally shed the ‘tough girl’ persona. There are numerous facets to my personality. I am not actively pursuing a relationship, but I am receptive to one – isn’t that the most balanced perspective?’
Showtime and Daily Grind
Abruptly, it’s time for Pirro to proceed to the studio, leaving that question lingering.
Down in “The Five’s” studio at Fox News HQ on Sixth Avenue and 48th Street, Pirro is seated in her elevated chair, scrolling through her phone, researching lighting fixtures for her Westchester residence while receiving final makeup touches.
Her assistant reviews her schedule for the upcoming week as she selects her jewelry and determines the optimal microphone color to complement her suit and Alexander Bergman shoes.
And for the ensuing hour, Pirro will engage in her forte – exchanging witty banter, humorous asides, and insightful analyses with her co-hosts, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Brian Kilmeade, and Jessica Tarlov, as they dissect the day’s prominent issues.
From Law to Television
She confesses, ‘I never envisioned a career in television. However, I extensively utilized press conferences as a District Attorney. For me, it was consistently about advocating for victims – leveraging any platform that best served that purpose. That’s how my media career began.’
Regardless of its origins, she conveys to this publication, it is her awareness of impermanence, the profound understanding that this phase will eventually conclude, that has transformed over the years into that almost insatiable ‘drive’ – the core impetus behind a remarkable career marked by groundbreaking achievements.
Early Aspirations and Legal Beginnings
Born in Elmira, New York, to Lebanese American parents, Pirro recognized her legal calling from the age of six. The fictional television defense lawyer, Perry Mason, served as her primary inspiration, she recounts.
Upon graduating from Albany Law School, she was appointed Westchester County’s Assistant District Attorney in 1975. Within two years, she approached her supervisor, DA Carl Vergari, urging him to seek federal funding to establish a specialized bureau for domestic violence cases.
The resulting division was pioneering nationwide. Pirro reminisces, ‘Back then, battered women were not considered genuine crime victims. Law enforcement would often advise them, “Go to your mother’s and tell him to take a walk.” Society largely viewed domestic violence as a social issue, not a criminal justice matter.’
She clarifies, ‘People often inquire, “Did you experience domestic violence personally? Or someone in your family?” But no – my parents shared a loving relationship. We had no such experiences. However, it became my mission. My crusade.’
Breaking Barriers in the Legal Field
This initiative marked the initial salvo in a legal trajectory where Pirro frequently challenged established conventions. Early in her profession, she recalls being informed that ‘women are incapable of prosecuting homicide cases…they lack the killer instinct.’
She states, ‘When I prosecuted my first homicide case, I realized there were young women observing me, and I felt compelled to succeed.’
Pirro consistently emphasizes her sense of responsibility to the women who would follow her path. She was not a groundbreaker who became an obstacle for others, but rather one who offered support and guidance.
In 1990, she achieved another milestone, becoming the first female judge in Westchester County. She served on the bench for three years before concluding, ‘This isn’t my true calling.’
Her assistant runs over her schedule for the rest of the week as she selects her jewelry and picks which color of mic goes best with her suit and her Alexander Bergman shoes.
Born in Elmira, New York, the daughter of Lebanese American parents Pirro knew she wanted to be a lawyer from the age of six. The fictional TV criminal defense attorney, Perry Mason, was, she says, her inspiration.
Pirro repeatedly references her sense of this duty to the women who followed in her wake. She was not a trailblazer who pulled up the ladder behind her but rather one who extended her hand down in help.
From Judge to District Attorney and Beyond
She clarifies, ‘I enjoyed being a judge, but I realized I functioned more as a referee, and my fundamental nature is that of a fighter. That’s why I pursued the District Attorney position.’
She smiles, ‘I was ideally suited to be a DA. I simply loved the adversarial aspect. When I campaigned for that role, I had to hold a press conference with my then-husband, who was initially resistant to the idea. I had to reassure the public that I would adequately manage my parental responsibilities, given my young children.’
‘Interestingly, the fact that I was challenging a male candidate who had three children with a fourth on the way was largely overlooked.’
Political Ventures and Television Debut
Did this disparity provoke her? ‘It deeply annoyed me,’ she admits, ‘but I possess the ability to channel anger constructively. My mindset was, alright, let’s make this successful. I’m going to ensure this works. I will gain access and advocate for women, children, and victims.’
She was elected in November 1993 and subsequently re-elected in 1997 and 2001 before declaring, in May 2005, her intention not to seek another term.
Instead, she transitioned to politics. In August 2005, she briefly entered the Republican primary race to challenge Hillary Clinton for a Senate seat, withdrawing that December.
In 2006, she campaigned for Attorney General but was defeated by Andrew Cuomo. The day following her electoral loss, she received a call from Warner Brothers, she recalls, offering her a television program.
Her initial response was disbelief. ‘I questioned, “Why would you want me on television?”’
Her daily show, “Judge Jeanine Pirro,” premiered in 2008 and went on to win a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2011. It was canceled the same year, by which point Pirro had already secured a contract with Fox for her successful program, “Justice with Judge Jeanine.”
Personal Trials and Triumphs
Parallel to her professional evolution, her personal life also underwent significant shifts.
Instead, she turned to politics. In August 2005 she embarked on a short-lived run at the Republican nomination to challenge Hillary Clinton in the Senate before dropping out that December.
In 2006 she ran for Attorney General but was beaten by Andrew Cuomo. The day after her defeat she got a call from Warner Brothers, she says, offering her a television show.
Her daily show, ‘Judge Jeanine Pirro’ debuted in 2008 and would go onto win a daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2011. It was cancelled that same year by which time Pirro had already inked a deal with Fox for her hit show, ‘Justice with Judge Jeanine.’
Divorce and Continued Success
In February 1999, Pirro’s then-husband, Albert, 77, the father of her two children, Christi, 34, and Alex, 35, was indicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns for concealing over $1 million in personal income as business expenses.
He was convicted on 23 charges and served 17 months in prison before being granted early release for good conduct and participation in an alcohol dependency program. However, the marriage did not withstand the ordeal. The couple separated in 2007 and finalized their divorce in 2013.
Undeniably, Pirro’s career and public profile have consistently ascended. She has authored numerous books, both non-fiction and fictional, and is a prominent on-screen presence in households nationwide. From this reporter’s viewpoint, there are no apparent indications of deceleration.
Unwavering Drive
Upon returning home each day, she states, she remains active until 2 am, processing emails. Because she understands that one day, this intensely active chapter will conclude.