Editing Judge Mathis (section)

== Judge Greg Mathis ==
===Case handling and adjudicating approach===
{{Main|Greg Mathis}}

Mathis typically began proceedings by immediately giving the [[plaintiff]] the floor, having him/her expound on their side of the dispute in its entirety to gain insight into the matters. Mathis subsequently granted the [[defendant]] the same opportunity. Cases on ''Judge Mathis'' tended to go deeper and to more revealing places than those of most other court shows. He called attention to peculiarities or juicy details exposed throughout the proceedings as a means of making the cases more stimulating to viewers. More open and unreserved in his personal beliefs than other judges, Mathis never hesitated to tackle serious, topical [[social issue#United States|societal issues]], [[politics|political]] and [[mental health]] matters, and any other touchy subjects that emerged during the proceedings. Not one to shy away from disclosing his [[liberalism|liberal]] mindset, Mathis tied in his [[social justice]] and rehabilitation perspectives into the cases.<ref name="books.google.com"/>

While hearing the testimonies, Mathis took on a relaxed, attentive, understanding, and open-minded nature. Rarely missing an opportunity to jest or poke fun, however, Mathis was given to wit, joking and humor, also good-natured ridicule and ribbing of the parties, often rousing his audience to uproarious amusement. He sometimes cut the tension–even tension he had fostered–with wisecracks or playfully taunting remarks. Mathis had bantered directly at audience members on occasion, also resulting in audience amusement.<ref name="metnews.com">{{cite web|author=Roger M. Grace |url=http://www.metnews.com/articles/reminiscing100203.htm |title=Seven Courtroom Shows Appear on TV's Fall Docket |publisher=Metnews.com |date=2 October 2003 |access-date=9 September 2013}}</ref> A trademark, Mathis sporadically used a rather high-pitched voice to stultify litigants in a manner that suggests they've acted foolishly or have not recognized the obvious.<ref name="books.google.com"/><ref name="pcasacas.org">http://pcasacas.org/SiPC/29.1/29.1%20Jeremiah.pdf {{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref>

Combined with his teasing and comedic tendencies on the bench,<ref name="metnews.com"/> Mathis was known for his [[wikt: street-smart|street smart]]; urban expressions; and, once he had closely observed, reasoned back and forth and taken a stance on the litigants and matters brought before him, his stern, shaming and firmly lecturing side as well. Occasionally, Mathis left the courtroom to deliberate and then returned with his verdict.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EZD6eR43pMcC&pg=PA230 |title=The A to Z of African-American Television|date= 4 August 2009|isbn=9780810863484 |access-date=9 September 2013|last1=Fearn-Banks |first1=Kathleen |publisher=Scarecrow Press }}</ref> Upon final judgment, he would briefly explain the legal principle guiding his verdict, especially if his ruling was based on a particular state's law. Reportedly, Mathis's rulings conformed to the laws of the state where the case was originally filed.<ref>Judge Mathis interview. Online at: [http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/12/28/interview-with-judge-mathis/ "Interview with the Judge Mathis"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707101115/http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/12/28/interview-with-judge-mathis/ |date=7 July 2011 }}. Retrieved 5 March 2011</ref> In recent years, the show began to conduct [[Paternity (law)|paternity]] testing in disputes about [[child custody]], and [[drug testing]] if applicable. Mathis often offered or compeled [[drug rehabilitation|drug treatment]] and family counseling for those parties in need.<ref name="MadameNoire"/><ref name="ChicagoTribuneArticle"/>

===Coming-of-age journey fused with court show===
As a [[Juvenile delinquency|child and teenage delinquent]], Mathis found himself embroiled in frequent legal woes. He was a member of a street [[gang]] in Detroit, and he was arrested and sentenced to jail for illegally carrying a firearm when he was 17 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/07/greg-mathis-judge-mathis-gang-gun-arrest-detroit/|title = Gun-Toting Judge Greg Mathis Was Arrested as a Teenager|date = 31 July 2014}}</ref>

Mathis was brought up in one of the worst housing projects in Detroit while raised by a single mother.<ref>[http://showbizspy.com/article/gun-toting-judge-greg-mathis-was-arrested-as-a-teenager-280966 Gun-Toting Judge Greg Mathis Was Arrested As A Teenager – Showbiz Spy<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808042415/http://showbizspy.com/article/gun-toting-judge-greg-mathis-was-arrested-as-a-teenager-280966 |date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref name="MadameNoire"/> During his youth, he was involved with gangs (most notably the [[Errol Flynns]] gang), [[dropping out|dropped out]] of school and spent time [[prison|behind bars]]. Growing up as a gang member and [[heroin]] dealer in the [[ghetto#African American ghettos|mean streets]] of Detroit, Michigan, Mathis had done plenty of time in [[Youth detention center|juvenile detention centers]] before age 17. All this changed when a judge gave him an [[ultimatum]]—either get a [[G.E.D.]] or go to jail. At the same time, Mathis found out his mother was dying of [[cancer]]. Rushing to her side, he promised her he'd turn his life around, which he did: he attended college, attended law school, earned a [[Juris Doctor]] degree, and passed the [[bar examination|bar]].<ref name="judgemathistv.warnerbros.com"/><ref name="MadameNoire"/><ref name="Variety"/>

Mathis had frequently used his courtroom series to highlight his troubled-youth-turned-success story as a way of motivating and inspiring his audience (especially the youth audience) that there's no adversity that they can't pick themselves up from. It was from his background that Mathis derived much of his arbitration formula and television show theme. For example, the court show's [[title sequence]] music video throughout the early seasons of the program consisted of a brief dedication to Mathis's life story, Mathis narrating with the lines: "Where I grew up, life was rough; we had to make do. And I was arrested several times as a juvenile delinquent. My mom told me she was about to die. I made my commitment that I would change my life. I bring a sense of tough life and compassion to the courtroom." Mathis later shared that he took the job as television arbitrator on the condition that his life story was shared as part of the opening for each episode.<ref name="Variety"/>

In the same likeness of his experience, Mathis took a distinct admiration for litigants who had seen the error of their troubled ways and had made efforts to improve and better their lives.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXQNIs12SzQC&pg=PA20 |title=Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series about ... |date= 21 October 2009|isbn=9780786454525 |access-date=9 September 2013|last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |publisher=McFarland }}</ref> Mathis also made efforts to promote treatment and programs for individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addictions.<ref name="ChicagoTribune"/>