1. A member of a people that arrived in Europe in migrations from northern India around the 14th century, now also living in North America and Australia. Many Gypsy groups have preserved elements of their traditional culture, including an itinerant existence and the Romany language.
2. See Romany (sense 2).
3. gypsy One inclined to a nomadic, unconventional way of life.
4. A person who moves from place to place as required for employment, especially:
1. A part-time or temporary member of a college faculty.
2. A member of the chorus line in a theater production.

The term used by most Americans would probably refer to the third or fourth definition. These groups may also include a bad element that may include thief or two that make the whole group look bad. Such is life, get over it. I am sure there are terms used in England that Americans might find offensive, but hey people cry about everything. I guess we should learn a lesson from the FX show “The Riches” and use the term traveler thief, but since that person might be of Irish ancestry we may be offending them.

As for Judge Judy; she’s old school and fortunately refrains from using most of the ethnically insensitive expressions that are common in the American culture. She probably needs to be educated about the ‘gypsy thief’ expression so that she stops using it on national TV.

Have you emailed her at http://www.judgejudy.com/Forms/tellit.asp ?