When famed and critically acclaimed judge Greg Mathis steps onto the stage at Detroit’s historic Music Hall on January 16 and 17, it will represent the culmination of a life journey that many once believed would end behind prison walls.
For more than 26 years, Mathis has been a familiar face to millions through his groundbreaking television courtroom show, becoming the longest-running African American host in television history. Yet the man Detroit knows as “Judge Mathis” says the upcoming stage production, Don’t Judge Me, reveals layers of his story that audiences have never fully seen – and, until now, he was not prepared to tell.
“This is the first of its kind,” Mathis said. “It’s an interactive stage play that includes dancers, singing, and even screens that talk back and forth with the cast. It’s something folks have never seen before.”
At its core, Don’t Judge Me is biographical play, tracing Mathis’ transformation from a troubled Detroit youth to the youngest judge in Michigan history. The production captures the pivotal 15-year stretch between Mathis’ time in jail and his ascent to the bench, revealing the obstacles, failures, and moments of divine intervention that reshaped his destiny.
One of the most profound moments depicted in the play centers on a promise Mathis made to his mother on her deathbed – a vow that ultimately became the turning point in his life.
“That deathbed promise changed my life,” he said. “Everything that came afterward — coming out of jail, having my law license withheld for two years, going before the Michigan Supreme Court — those were all pivotal moments.”
Despite passing the bar exam, Mathis’ past nearly derailed his legal career. His teenage criminal record forced him to plead his case before the state’s highest court just to practice law. Winning his license was not just a legal victory, but a spiritual and emotional one — proof that redemption was possible, even in a system that often gives up on young Black men.
The play also explores Mathis’ family life, including his 40-year marriage and the challenges of raising a family while building a career rooted in public service. But more than anything, Don’t Judge Me is designed as a roadmap, particularly for troubled youth and the parents trying to save them.
“My mother worked two jobs, sometimes midnights, sometimes cleaning homes during the day,” Mathis recalled. “She left four boys alone in tough housing projects, but she force-fed us education and spirituality. Church twice a week. Homework every day. Dinner together. Prayer.”
Despite her tireless efforts, the destructive environment surrounding the family eventually overwhelmed her influence. Mathis and his brothers became entangled in street life and the play confronts these realities head-on.
Audiences will witness scenes Mathis has rarely discussed publicly, including armed robberies and shootings he was involved in as a young man. It is a level of honesty he once avoided out of fear that the truth might alienate viewers.
“I’ve been hesitant to get that explicit because it’s rough,” he admitted. “But I’m approaching retirement. If people stop watching now, it won’t matter. They need to see how real it was — how close I was to life in prison.”
That brutal honesty, Mathis believes, is necessary to show young people that transformation is not theoretical and that it’s earned through struggle, discipline, and faith.
“We’re showing mothers how to overcome the circumstances they live in,” he said. “You don’t have to be defeated by poverty, substandard education, drugs, and crime. You can overcome it.”
Though Mathis never intended to make his past a public narrative, it became impossible to avoid when he ran for judge. Media outlets unearthed his background expecting scandal. Instead, the story resonated nationwide.
“A former gang member in Detroit becomes the youngest judge in Michigan history,” Mathis said. “Hollywood came calling.”
Producers initially proposed movies, but Mathis saw greater potential in television. Ultimately, his decision to go to TV over movies led to a 26-year run and a cultural legacy that reshaped how America viewed courtroom justice.
Now, he is bringing that legacy back home in a new medium.
Originally inspired by Mike Tyson’s one-man stage show, Mathis considered telling his story solo. But he quickly realized that his audience, particularly Detroit audiences, expect more.
“My audience likes to be entertained, not just informed,” he said. “So we went to work on a full stage production.”
Detroit, he added, naturally lends itself to that kind of storytelling.
“It’s a colorful life, and we’re colorful people,” Mathis said with a laugh.
Beyond the stage, Mathis remains deeply engaged in Detroit’s civic and political life. His visible support of Mayor Mary Sheffield’s campaign is rooted not in ambition, but in trust and history. Mathis has known Sheffield since childhood and worked for her grandfather, the late Coleman A. Young ally Horace Sheffield Jr.
“I’ve held her as a baby,” he said. “She’s been a partner in the revitalization of this city. She knows every crook and cranny of city government.”
Though he is often urged to run for office himself – in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles alike – Mathis says his purpose lies elsewhere.
“God has given me this national platform to spread hope and inspiration,” he said. “Local politics is something I engage in to help others, not to benefit myself.”
As he looks toward retirement, Mathis’ vision remains focused on community transformation. Through the Mathis Community Center in Detroit and future projects across the country, he plans to expand affordable housing paired with wraparound services, which echo the redevelopment of Herman Gardens, the housing project where he grew up.
“Providing housing and community centers together, that’s the next objective,” he said.
At its heart, Don’t Judge Me is about legacy. The live performances will be recorded for streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, and other outlets, ensuring future generations can learn from Mathis’ journey long after the curtain falls.
“This is something we want to leave behind,” he said. “So people can follow the roadmap.”
For Detroit – a city that shaped him, tested him, and ultimately celebrated him – Judge Mathis’ stage debut is a homecoming, a testimony, and a challenge to never count anyone out too soon.
Judge Greg Mathis’ stage play “Don’t Judge Me” runs January 16–17 at the Music Hall in Detroit. For tickets, visit MusicHall.org.
