The series saw Judge Greg Mathis adjudicating small claims disputes from his studio courtroom set.

[3] The courtroom series was filmed in front of a studio audience at the NBC Tower in Chicago, but included cases and litigants from other U.S.

Mathis typically began proceedings by immediately giving the plaintiff the floor, having him/her expound on their side of the dispute in its entirety to gain insight into the matters.

He called attention to peculiarities or juicy details exposed throughout the proceedings as a means of making the cases more stimulating to viewers.

More open and unreserved in his personal beliefs than other judges, Mathis never hesitated to tackle serious, topical societal issues, political and mental health matters, and any other touchy subjects that emerged during the proceedings.

Rarely missing an opportunity to jest or poke fun, however, Mathis was given to wit, joking and humor, also good-natured ridicule and ribbing of the parties, often rousing his audience to uproarious amusement.

[9] A trademark, Mathis sporadically used a rather high-pitched voice to stultify litigants in a manner that suggests they've acted foolishly or have not recognized the obvious.

[8][10] Combined with his teasing and comedic tendencies on the bench,[9] Mathis was known for his street smart; urban expressions; and, once he had closely observed, reasoned back and forth and taken a stance on the litigants and matters brought before him, his stern, shaming and firmly lecturing side as well.

[11] Upon final judgment, he would briefly explain the legal principle guiding his verdict, especially if his ruling was based on a particular state's law.

Growing up as a gang member and heroin dealer in the mean streets of Detroit, Michigan, Mathis had done plenty of time in juvenile detention centers before age 17.

[16] In the same likeness of his experience, Mathis took a distinct admiration for litigants who had seen the error of their troubled ways and had made efforts to improve and better their lives.

[17] The success of Judge Mathis was particularly noteworthy in that, generally speaking, court show programming had a very limited shelf life.

From 2017 into early 2018 during the program's 19th season, Mathis considered ending his courtroom series as he was heavily encouraged by his hometown community to run for congressman of Detroit, Michigan.

I enjoy what we do, particularly the last several years, when we were able to focus a lot more and put more resources, thanks to Warner Brothers and Telepictures, toward changing lives."

Mathis expressed value in his court show's influence on drug and alcohol addicts to enroll in rehabilitation, its offering of paternity test results to litigators and providing counseling to troubled parties.

[19] Judge Greg Mathis's "inspirational and positive messages to young people" won the court show a PRISM Commendation in May 2002.

In April 2018, the court show won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program, just ahead of making its milestone 20th season.

In his acceptance speech for his first-ever Emmy win, he credited his diverse staff of females and minorities: On May 4, 2022, Mathis was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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.

[19] Mathis, which filmed from the NBC Tower in Chicago, Illinois, reported that production consulted him about shooting the court show from Los Angeles, California.

Unlike other courtroom programs, Greg Mathis, Doyle, the litigators and the audience all initially presented in person (as opposed to virtually).

[24] Judge Mathis's final bailiff, Doyle Devereux had been with the program for most of its series run, since January 2003, midway into the court show's 4th season.

[25] It was revealed in an Hour Detroit news publication that Devereux was never a real-life bailiff, however, rather an actor cast by the program to play the role of one.

[27] The court show's first bailiff, Brendan Anthony Moran, died on December 19, 2002, after he fell to his death from the balcony of his 24th-floor Chicago condo.