YMMV / Judge Mathis

• Tear Jerker:
  • The memorial to Judge Mathis' first bailiff, Brendan Moran, on the February 20, 2003 show. Moran died following a fall from a 24th story balcony on December 28, 2002; he was only 37 years old. Authorities ruled the death a suicide, but Mathis and Moran's family disputed the ruling, claiming Moran did not seem to be depressed. Moran was succeeded by Doyle Devereux, who has served as the show's bailiff ever since.
  • One case in 2018. In probably the most heartbreaking case the show ever had, the plaintiff sued the defendant over a DNA test, and the results were so devastating, that Mathis ended the case by coming out of the bench to pray with the litigants. Words can’t do the whole thing justice.
  • A 2003 case involved a young man who escaped his gang-infested neighborhood in Oakland, California, by moving in with his aunt and uncle in St. Louis, and brought his uncle to court for disposing of his possessions and medication. The plaintiff's relationship with his aunt and uncle was initially good but soon deteriorated to the point where the plaintiff alleged that his uncle was always trying to pick fights, was barging into his room without knocking, and on one occasion threw a knife at him. The defendant in turn blamed the plaintiff for using his sickle cell amenia as an excuse to not go to work, while still going out at night, and challenging his authority as the man of his household. When the Plaintiff pleaded "I'm your nephew!" and the defendant responded back "You ain't nothing to me," Judge Mathis had enough and became so emotional he had to ask Doyle for a tissue before unleashing on the defendant:
    Judge Mathis: [Throws his pen down, as the Plaintiff and Defendant argue] I don't want to hear no more of this... Sir, quiet! I don't want to hear no more of this! [Pause, as Judge Mathis turns ot Doyle] Hand me a piece of tissue, man. [Takes one and continues, choked up] This damn young man moved from the streets of Oakland to escape the gangs, plead out to you for help?! You let him move in there knowing what he done went through all his life! He running from the street gangs! How many young people run from the street gangs and try and escape? NONE! Most of them STAY there and try to SURVIVE and KILL each other or DESTROY theyselves! He got sickle cell anemia, no parents! And yeah, I'm crying because I see myself in him! There's one thing to give a young man tough love. But where's the love? All I hear is toughness!