Editing Judge Mathis (section)

==Production and broadcast specifics==
===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.

===Location===
Each case's litigators entered the second-floor studio at the [[NBC Tower]] separately and pled their case in front of a studio audience. The show paid for the litigants' travel and hotel fees, provided by a small stipend for those selected to appear before Mathis, standard practice for courtroom television programming.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>

Mathis, which filmed from the NBC Tower in [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], reported that production consulted him about shooting the court show from [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]. Production had expressed interest in Mathis being closer to the rest of the celebrity industry. Although he considered this suggestion, Mathis vehemently denied the option. In Mathis's words, "I didn't want to interrupt the success. I felt that it was working well, so why disturb that? Secondly, I just love Chicago a lot more than Los Angeles.”<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>

===COVID-19 precautionary updates for season 22===
Like most [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States|television program seasons premiering in the fall of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic]], ''Judge Mathis'' was forced to enter into a new season (its 22nd) in resourceful fashion. As ''Judge Mathis'' cases were pre-taped well in advance of airing for editing purposes, the program had to shoot cases during the height of the pandemic.

Unlike other courtroom programs, Greg Mathis, Doyle, the litigators and the audience all initially presented in person (as opposed to virtually). That being said, by September 7, 2020, when the series premiered its 22nd season, there were a host of on-set precautionary measures in place: a significantly depopulated courtroom audience; all members of the audience widely distanced from one another; all audience members wearing clear plastic face shields; Bailiff Doyle wearing a disposable surgical face mask; a structure bearing a large window placed between Judge Mathis and his litigators; etc. In this manner, Mathis and his litigators all remained unmasked throughout the court proceedings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swartz |first1=Tracy |title=Movies and TV shows can film again in Illinois — with limits — after shutdown for coronavirus |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-tv-film-chicago-coronavirus-phase-four-20200622-gccgqdvkrff23dtlctny3zy4la-story.html |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=chicagotribune.com}}</ref>

These COVID-19 measures were later updated that same season: the litigants, along with their witnesses if necessary, presented testimony from remote locations through [[webcam]]. Video monitors were set up in Mathis's courtroom on the litigant podiums. Mathis himself along with Baliff Doyle presented to the courtroom in person, however.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge Mathis |url=https://judgemathistv.com/  |access-date=1 August 2021 |work=JudgeMathistv.com}}</ref>