Judge Mathis Season 20 Episode 21 Episode 21
- October 1, 2018
Judge Mathis is a courtroom reality show that has been on air for over two decades, offering a platform for regular citizens to resolve their legal disputes in front of a live audience. Season 20, Episode 21 of Judge Mathis follows the same pattern as its predecessors and features two parties locked in a legal battle seeking the judge's verdict.
As the episode begins, viewers are introduced to plaintiff, Jared, who claims that his friend, the defendant, Cullen, is responsible for damaging his car. Jared explains that he and Cullen used to be close friends, but their relationship soured after the alleged incident. Jared claims that on a night out, Cullen was driving Jared's car while under the influence, and as a result, crashed it into a fence. Although Cullen admits to being drunk and behind the wheel, he denies causing any damage to the vehicle.
Judge Mathis listens attentively to both sides of the story before asking Jared to present evidence of the damage. Jared produces photographs of the car's dented bumper, which he claims were taken after the incident. Cullen attempts to argue that these photographs could have been taken at any time, but Jared refutes this allegation, insisting that they were taken shortly after the incident. Judge Mathis examines the photographs and decides that they are indeed evidence of damage caused to the car.
Cullen continues to argue that he did not cause the damage and implies that Jared may have created it himself to extract money from him. However, Judge Mathis is unconvinced by this story and tells Cullen he must take responsibility for his actions. Cullen seems to be hanging his hopes on the idea that Jared's evidence is unreliable and that the damage to the car was pre-existing, but Judge Mathis dismisses these notions outright, concluding that Cullen must pay for the damage caused to Jared's vehicle.
With the verdict reached, Judge Mathis turns to the plaintiff and commends him for his responsible behavior in lending his vehicle to a friend who was not in a fit state to drive. He also advises Jared that he should have reported the accident to the police, to which Jared agrees that it was an oversight. As the episode closes, Judge Mathis reminds viewers of the lesson to be learned from this case: that it is never acceptable to drive drunk, and that anyone involved in an accident while intoxicated will be held accountable for the damage caused.
Overall, Season 20, Episode 21 of Judge Mathis might not be a particularly thrilling installment, but it is a solid example of the show's format. As ever, it provides an accessible and entertaining look into real-life legal battles, showcasing both the logical reasoning of a veteran judge and the way in which people's lives can be affected by even small legal disputes. For fans of the show, it is another satisfying episode in what has been a long-running and successful series.