Editing Judge Mathis (section)

===On-air format, broadcast schedule, execution methods===
Each episode ran for one hour and typically consisted of 4 cases.<ref name="judgemathistv.warnerbros.com">{{cite web|url=http://judgemathistv.warnerbros.com/html/abouttheshow.html |title=Judge Mathis Bio |publisher=Judgemathistv.warnerbros.com |date=11 September 2006 |access-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227140532/http://judgemathistv.warnerbros.com/html/abouttheshow.html |archive-date=27 February 2012 }}</ref> The show is broadcast five days a week in every U.S. state, as well as Canada through [[Omni Television]].<ref>Judge Mathis website. Online at: [http://judgemathistv.warnerbros.com/about/whenitson.html "When its on"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429193124/http://judgemathistv.warnerbros.com/about/whenitson.html |date=April 29, 2011 }}. Retrieved 5 March 2011</ref><ref>Omni Television. Ontario [http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/tv/judgemathis/ "Judge Mathis"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110044251/http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/tv/judgemathis/ |date=November 10, 2007 }} Accessed 8 May 2007</ref>

The cases on ''Judge Mathis'' were classified as [[tort law]] civil disputes with a maximum $5,000 claim, a typical amount for [[small claims court]]. The producers of the show selected the cases. To acquire cases, the show solicited real-life [[litigant]]s with pending disputes or individuals with potential disputes.

If litigants agreed to be on the show, they were paid a talent fee ranging from $150 to $300, and they received travel accommodations. Mathis had prior knowledge of the cases. In all cases, litigants gave their prospective case managers all evidence in advance. Any outside legal case pending had to be dismissed by both parties.<ref name="ChicagoTribuneArticle"/>

Typically, Mathis's producers only looked for cases that they deemed juicy and sensational enough for television.