In a recent development regarding Wendy Williams’ guardianship, Judge Lisa Sokoloff has raised concerns about the media personality’s current living conditions. An email dated March 12, 2025, which has been reviewed by TMZ, indicates that Sokoloff might impose stricter limitations on Williams following her reports about the New York residential facility, Coterie.
“I have always contended that [Wendy] will be given the independence she can handle. I question how well she has handled the independence she has been given,” Sokoloff posited, suggesting a potential relocation for Williams.
In a subsequent email, Judge Sokoloff addressed Wendy’s attorney, advising, “Tell your client that if she wants a jury, she should refrain from trying to poison the jury pool.” Moreover, she ordered Williams to return to Coterie, pending the search for a new facility, after her discharge from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, where she underwent psychological assessments and health evaluations.
“The hospital wants to discharge her. Ms. Morrissey [the guardian] has facilities who, despite her behavior, are willing to assess her,” Sokoloff noted.
Wendy Williams, speaking to TMZ Live on March 12, responded to Sokoloff’s emails, asserting that conditions at Coterie were already exceptionally restrictive, labeling the facility a “luxury prison.” Williams has been under conservatorship since her diagnosis with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia two years ago, a condition that led to a court declaration of her being unable to manage her health and finances.
Understanding Lisa Sokoloff’s Role
Judge Lisa Sokoloff has been serving as an Acting Justice for the New York Supreme Court, 1st Judicial District since 2013, with her current term set to conclude on January 1, 2037. Affiliated with the Democratic Party, she was re-elected in November 2022. Notably, Sokoloff previously ran for re-election for the New York City Civil Court but did not appear on the ballot.
Before her judicial role, Sokoloff practiced privately and earned her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College in 1980, followed by a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1983. Recently, she has come under scrutiny for allegedly accepting around $6,000 in campaign donations purportedly from guardianship attorneys and law firms.
Wendy Williams’ Emotional Reaction
During a recent episode of TMZ Live, Wendy Williams expressed her distress over Judge Sokoloff’s communications, stating she intended to “keep it PG” while asserting that she was not “cognitively impaired.” Furthermore, she expressed her desire to “regain control of my life” and safeguard her financial matters, which she feels are precariously placed under guardianship.
“What is going on with the judge speaking to me in that way?” she inquired emotionally, agreeing with reporters that she is being treated as a “petulant child.” Reflecting on her current restrictions, she stated:
“Don’t make me start crying. It makes me very, very nervous… I’m scared of that… I don’t know what could be tighter than where I am, but I have to get out of guardianship and I have to do it immediately.”
Williams claimed that the court had misrepresented her situation, stating she lacks the freedom to move about as she pleases. She described significant limitations, including requiring permission from her guardian to see family members, not being allowed to freely access the fifth floor of Coterie, and having constrained communication and visitation options.
Earlier in the week, she was spotted signaling for help from her facility’s window, leading to her transfer to Lenox Hill Hospital. Williams vehemently stated her cognitive capabilities and her entitlement to live without guardianship constraints.
Despite recently achieving a perfect score on her cognitive evaluation, reports suggest that Judge Sokoloff is contemplating measures to tighten Wendy’s restrictions, indicating her frustration with Williams’ media interactions. Sokoloff has allegedly instructed Williams not to communicate with the press further.
Family members of Wendy Williams expressed to TMZ that her treatment under Sokoloff’s decisions seems retaliatory for speaking out against her guardianship. Meanwhile, Morrissey’s attorney argued that claims about Wendy’s poor conditions were exaggerated, asserting that she was receiving “excellent medical care along with numerous amenities” at Coterie.
“False statements about Ms. Williams, her condition, and the guardianship harm Ms. Williams and her interests,” her lawyer stated, citing that Wendy had managed to visit Florida twice within the year for family time.
For context, Sabrina Morrissey has been managing Williams’ conservatorship since 2022, following her mental health challenges outlined in earlier court cases claiming financial exploitation. Morrissey is reported to have received $300,000 for her services and oversees multiple other guardianship cases.
Currently, investigations by New York’s Adult Protective Services and the NYPD are ongoing regarding Williams’ guardianship and the limitations imposed on her within the memory unit of her facility. Upcoming, Wendy Williams is expected to appear on television for the first time in a while, scheduled for March 14 on “The View,”although details on her mode of appearance (in-person or via phone) are yet to be confirmed.