Editing Greg Mathis

{{short description|American judge (born 1960)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Greg Mathis
| image              = Greg Mathis.jpg
| caption            = Mathis in 2010
| birth_name         = Gregory Ellis Mathis<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.veromi.net/Summary.asp?fn=Gregory&mn=&ln=Mathis&dobmm=04&dobdd=05&doby=1960&city=&state=&age=&vw=&Search=&Input=&x=0&y=0 |title=People Summary |publisher=Veromi.net |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1960|4|5}}
| birth_place        = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| occupation         = Judge, writer
| office             = Judge of the [[Government of Detroit, Michigan#Courts|District Court of the State of Michigan]] (1995–1998)
| spouse             = {{marriage|Linda Reese|1985}}
| children           = 4
| alma_mater         = [[Eastern Michigan University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[University of Detroit Mercy School of Law|University of Detroit]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| party              = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
}}

'''Gregory Ellis Mathis''' (born April 5, 1960), also known as '''Judge Mathis''', is an African-American former court [[judge]] for [[Michigan]]'s [[Michigan's 36th House of Representatives district|36th District]], who is now a [[Television show|television]] [[court show]] arbitrator, author, television producer, and [[motivational speaker]].<ref name="MadameNoire">{{cite news|url=https://madamenoire.com/1314500/i-got-questions-talks-with-judge-mathis/|title=I GOT QUESTIONS: Judge Mathis Talks Cancel Culture, Tough Love, American Gangsters And Trap Queens|access-date=May 11, 2022|work=[[MadameNoire]]|last=Harris|first=Ida|date=May 10, 2022|location=United States}}</ref><ref name="Whnt">{{cite news|url=https://whnt.com/news/huntsville/tv-judge-greg-mathis-keynotes-black-history-month-ceremony-at-oakwood-university/|title=TV Judge Greg Mathis keynotes Black History Month ceremony at Oakwood University|access-date=January 9, 2022|work=News19|last=Parker|first=Dallas|date=February 28, 2019|location=United States}}</ref> 

For 24 seasons from September 13, 1999 to May 25, 2023, Mathis starred in his [[NAACP Image Awards|NAACP Image Award]] and [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program|Daytime Emmy]] winning, syndicated [[reality television|reality]] [[court show|courtroom show]], ''[[Judge Mathis]]'', for which he is best known. His program entered its milestone 20th season on Monday, September 3, 2018.<ref name="ChicagoTribune">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-judge-mathis-season-20-0903-story.html|title=Judge Mathis recalls highlights from his Chicago-filmed TV show ahead of Season 20 premiere |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=August 30, 2018 |access-date=September 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name="TV Guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.stevetv.com/clip/judge-mathis-is-about-to-start-its-20th-season|title='Judge Mathis' Is About To Start Its 20th Season |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref> Mathis is also the second longest-serving television arbitrator ever, behind only [[Judith Sheindlin]] of ''[[Judge Judy]]'' and ''[[Judy Justice]]'' by three seasons.<ref name="ChicagoTribuneArticle">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-judge-mathis-season-20-0903-story.html|title=Judge Mathis recalls highlights from his Chicago-filmed TV show ahead of Season 20 premiere|access-date=May 11, 2022|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|last=Swartz|first=Tracy|date=August 30, 2018|location=United States}}</ref> [[File:Dayton Unit NAACP FF 2016 - Mathis & Foward.jpg|thumb|Judge Greg Mathis speaking with Dayton NAACP President Derrick Foward in Dayton, Ohio]]

Mathis engages in outreach and philanthropy for the state of Michigan, such as for the [[Flint water crisis]].<ref name="Variety">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/judge-mathis-hollywood-walk-of-fame-1235257327/|title=How Greg Mathis Created His Own Path as a TV Judge|access-date=May 11, 2022|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Friedlander|first=Whitney|date=May 4, 2022|location=United States}}</ref> On May 4, 2022, Mathis was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref name="Variety"/>

A spiritually inspired play, ''Been there, Done that'', based on his life toured twenty-two cities in the U.S. in 2002. In addition, ''Inner City Miracle'', a memoir, was published by Ballantine Books. On June 19, 2022, a new [[E!]] reality program, ''Mathis Family Matters'', premiered, starring Greg Mathis as the paternal head of household along with his family and their various loved ones as they encounter various domestic ups and downs.<ref name="wclk">{{cite news|url=https://www.wclk.com/2022-05-03/watch-a-sneak-peek-of-mathis-family-matters-featuring-judge-mathis-video|title=Watch a Sneak Peek of 'Mathis Family Matters' featuring Judge Mathis (VIDEO)|access-date=May 11, 2022|work=News19|date=May 3, 2019|location=United States}}</ref>

==Early life==
Mathis was born in [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], to Charles Mathis, a [[Detroit]] native, and his wife, Alice Lee Mathis, a devoted [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]], nurse's aide, and housekeeper. Alice (then divorced from Charles) raised Mathis alone in [[Detroit]] during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. Mathis moved to [[Herman Gardens]] in 1964 and resided with family until roughly 1970.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/08/24/in-detroit-displaced-residents-still-waiting/dae0c38d-f5df-4ac4-8d27-84bcc51a3bf2/|title=In Detroit, Displaced Residents Still Waiting|last=Pierre|first=Robert|date=August 24, 2003|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref> They moved away from the housing complex to avoid rising drug use and rates of violent crime. Mathis was arrested several times as a juvenile delinquent, mainly for purse-snatching, breaking-and-entering, and robbery. He would eventually be arrested and put behind bars at age 17 for nine months for a concealed-weapons charge. While he was incarcerated in Wayne County Jail, his mother visited him and revealed she had [[Colorectal cancer|colon cancer]] so the judge overhearing his case would subsequently give him an ultimatum of G.E.D or jail time along with early probation.

==Education==
Once out of jail, Mathis began working at [[McDonald's]], a job he needed to keep to maintain his release on probation. A close family friend helped Mathis get admitted to [[Eastern Michigan University]], and he discovered a new interest in [[politics]] and [[public administration]]. He became a campus activist and worked for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], organizing several demonstrations against [[South Africa|South African]] [[Apartheid]] policies.  He graduated with a B.S. in [[Public Administration]] from the [[Ypsilanti]] campus and began to seek employment in [[Detroit City Hall|Detroit's City Hall]]. He also became a member of [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] fraternity.

==Career==
===Television===
Mathis's biggest claim to fame is his television court show, ''[[Judge Mathis]]'', which ran for 24 seasons from 1999 to 2023. The program is one of the longest-running shows in the court programming genre, 4th in place behind only ''[[Divorce Court]]'', ''[[The People's Court]]'' and ''[[Judge Judy]]'' (now out of production), respectively. As ''Divorce Court'' and ''The People's Court'' have suffered temporary cancellations/re-installments/judge-role recasting, Mathis and ''Judge Judy'' boasts the longest single-production runs as well as runs with a single presiding judge. With ''Judge Judy'' out of production after 25 seasons as of July 2021, ''Judge Mathis'' became the longest-running active single-production court show until its end in 2023. Mathis is also the second-longest-reigning arbitrator in courtroom television history.

Following the success of his ongoing court show, Mathis also stars in another program entitled ''Mathis Family Matters'' which revolves around himself, his family, and their loved ones as they face domestic highs and lows.<ref name="wclk">{{cite news|url=https://www.wclk.com/2022-05-03/watch-a-sneak-peek-of-mathis-family-matters-featuring-judge-mathis-video|title=Watch a Sneak Peek of 'Mathis Family Matters' featuring Judge Mathis (VIDEO)|access-date=May 11, 2022|work=News19|date=May 3, 2019|location=United States}}</ref>

===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''.

== Activism ==
Following his time spent in the Herman Gardens [[mixed-income housing]], Mathis remained devoted to aiding families in the area. In 2003, he lobbied city officials on the behalf of former Herman Gardens residents, imploring lawmakers to allow these individuals their first chance to move into new apartments built where Herman Gardens once stood.<ref name=":0" />

==Personal life==
Mathis met his wife, Linda, a fellow [[Eastern Michigan University]] alumnus, shortly after his mother's death. They married in June 1985 and have four children together: a daughter Jade, born May 1985, a daughter Camara, born October 1987, a son Greg Jr. born January 1989 and a son Amir, born July 1990.<ref>Mathis, Greg and Blair S. Walker. ''Inner City Miracle'', Ballatine: New York, 2002</ref> Mathis, who is a member of the City Temple [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], was awarded the Black History Achievement Award from [[Oakwood University]], which he says is the most meaningful award he has received.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakinoutnews.info/3.1.17_OakwoodUniversity_BlackHistoryMonth2017_JudgeGregMathis_Huntsville_Alabama_CarltonByrd_OakwoodSDAChurch.html|title=Judge Greg Mathis: Oakwood University's 2017 Black History Achievement Award Recipient|website=Speaking' Out News|access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref>

On August 22, 2024, his wife Linda filed for divorce after 39 years of marriage.<ref name=divorce>{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/judge-mathis-divorce-rcna167920?search=judge|title=Judge Mathis' wife, Linda, files for divorce after nearly 40 years of marriage|first=Joyann|last=Jeffrey|publisher=Today|date=August 23, 2024|accessdate=August 27, 2024}}</ref> In court papers, Linda listed their date of separation as July 17, 2024 and also stated that she filed for divorce due to "irreconcilable differences."<ref name=divorce />

On November 1, 2024, TMZ announced that Mathis and his wife have reconciled.

==Bibliography==
* Mathis, Greg and Blair S. Walker. ''Inner City Miracle'', Ballantine: New York, 2002.
* Mathis, Greg. "Black men must fight back against obstacles." (For Brothers O ''Ebony'' (magazine). February 1, 2007. vol: 62:4 p.&nbsp;38

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.askjudgemathis.com/ Judge Mathis Empowerment Network web site]
* [http://judgemathistv.warnerbros.com/?frompage=sitemap Judge Mathis television web site]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Greg}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:African-American judges]]
[[Category:American Seventh-day Adventists]]
[[Category:African-American television personalities]]
[[Category:Eastern Michigan University alumni]]
[[Category:Former gang members]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Michigan Democrats]]
[[Category:Michigan state court judges]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Detroit]]
[[Category:Culture of Detroit]]
[[Category:University of Detroit Mercy alumni]]
[[Category:Television judges]]