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Each one-hour episode of "Judge Mathis" features four cases, and Mathis' decisions are legal and binding. In addition, he uses the bench to provide resolution and counseling to the litigants.

As a young man, Greg Mathis was involved with gangs, dropped out of school, spent time in jail and then, as a promise to his dying mother, turned his life around. He attended college, earned a law degree, became the youngest judge in Michigan's history and then served as a Superior Court Judge for Michigan's 36th District. Known for running his courtroom with a no-nonsense style and streetwise sensibility, Mathis often uses himself as an example to those who appear before him.

The key to Mathis' success in the courtroom is his relatability. Having made the journey from behind bars to passing the bar, Mathis believes rehabilitation is within everyone's reach if they receive the right guidance, which is what he tries to provide. In addition to upholding the rule of law in court, he makes it a point to stress that education is the key to a better future.

Even though he dispenses some of that "tough love" every now and then in his courtroom, people understand that it's his concern for their future that motivates his decisions. Year after year, Judge Mathis continues to extend this advocacy to the streets.