Editing Greg Mathis (section)

===Outside of television===
Mathis began his political career as an unpaid intern, and then became an assistant to Clyde Cleveland, a city council member. It was at this time {{when|date=May 2018}} Mathis took the [[Law School Admission Test|LSAT]] and applied to [[law school]]s; he was conditionally admitted to the [[University of Detroit Mercy School of Law|University of Detroit School of Law]], which was located in downtown Detroit, walking distance from city hall. He passed a summer course and was officially admitted to the night program, which took four years to complete.

Mathis was denied a license to practice law for several years after graduating from law school because of his criminal past. He received his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of Detroit Mercy]] in 1987. In 1995, he was elected a district court judge for Michigan's 36th District, making him the youngest person in the state to hold the post. During the five years he was on the bench, he was rated in the top five of all judges in the 36th District; there are about thirty judges each year.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

Mathis was appointed head of [[Jesse Jackson]]'s Presidential campaign in the state of [[Michigan]] in 1988. Mathis later became head of Mayor [[Coleman Young]]'s re-election campaign and after the victory was appointed to run the city's east side city hall.

Mathis has continued to be involved in politics after rising to national entertainment prominence through his television show. Urban politics and African-American movements have been his focus. Most recently, Mathis was invited by the Obama administration to be a part of "My Brothers Keeper", a White House Initiative to empower boys, and men of color.<ref>Detroit News Report [http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/METRO/803270459 "Judge Mathis denies involvement in mayor's legal fund, calls on Kilpatrick to quit"]</ref>

On June 4, 2011, Detroit-area drivers lined up for blocks as Mathis offered up to $92 worth of free gasoline apiece to the first 92 drivers to show up at a northwest Detroit [[Mobil]] station. He told the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' it was a gift to the people who elected him to District Court despite his youthful criminal record. "LA didn't elect me judge," he said. "Chicago didn't elect me judge. Detroiters took a chance on me. It's just the right thing to do. And when you're blessed, you have to look out for the rest." The giveaway took place near the Mathis Community Center, which he funds. Its activities include self-improvement classes, food and clothing assistance, and training for ex-convicts. "No matter what international fame he's achieved, he's still a hometown guy," said WMXD-FM's Frankie Darcell, who announced the location on the air. "Everybody's happy. I'm happy," said gas station owner Mike Safiedine. "The people need it, especially (because) the price is very high."

In September 2008, Mathis wrote a novel called ''Street Judge'', based on the life of a judge who solves murders. It was co-written by [[Zane (author)|Zane]], a well-known erotic series writer of ''Zane's Sex Chronicles''. Mathis also wrote a book entitled ''Of Being a Judge to Criminals and Such''.