suggestion, Mathis vehemently denied the option. In Mathis's words, "I didn't want to interrupt the success. I felt that it was working well, so why disturb that? Secondly, I just love Chicago a lot more than Los Angeles.” COVID-19 precautionary updates for season 22 Like most television program seasons premiering in the fall of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Judge Mathis was forced to enter into a new season (its 22nd) in resourceful fashion. As Judge Mathis cases are pre-taped well in advance of airing for editing purposes, the program had to shoot cases during the height of the pandemic. Unlike other courtroom programs, Greg Mathis, the bailiff, the litigators and the audience all initially presented in person (as opposed to virtually). That being said, by September 7, 2020, when the series premiered its 22nd season, there were a host of on-set precautionary measures in place: a significantly depopulated courtroom audience; all members of the audience widely distanced from one another; all audience members wearing clear plastic face shields; Bailiff Doyle wearing a disposable surgical face mask; a structure bearing a large window placed between Judge Mathis and his litigators; etc. In this manner, Mathis and his litigators all remained unmasked throughout the court proceedings. These COVID-19 measures were later updated that same season: the litigants, along with their witnesses if necessary, presented testimony from remote locations through webcam. Video monitors were set up in Mathis's courtroom on the litigant podiums. Mathis himself along with Baliff Doyle presented to the courtroom in person, however. Bailiffs and supporting roles Judge Mathiss current bailiff, Doyle Devereux has been with the program for most of its series run, since January 2003, midway into the court show's 4th season. 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. In Doyle's words, "The show is real, the cases are real, you guys are real. If there’s something that could be a little fake about this show, it’s me." Before Devereux, Kevin Lingle was the court show's bailiff for a short duration during the show's 4th season as well. The court show's first bailiff, Brendan Anthony Moran, died on 19 December 2002 after he fell to his death from the balcony of his 24th-floor Chicago condo. His death was ruled a suicide, although Moran's family