Judge Lynn Toler / Facebook: Divorce Court
Three prominent African American judges have made significant and positive impacts on our community. Judge Greg Mathis, the youngest judge ever in Michigan; Judge Faith Jenkins, who graduated first in her class at the prestigious Southern University and A&M College; and Judge Lynn Toler, who was elected to the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court, have all distinguished themselves through their notable achievements and contributions to society.
Judge Greg Mathis, the youngest elected judge in Michigan's history, was born in Detroit on April 5, 1960. During his time in college, Judge Mathis led student campaigns for civil rights and voter registration. In the early 1980s, he worked for a Detroit City Councilman, volunteered for Operation PUSH, and was involved in Reverend Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign. Judge Mathis also co-founded an organization called Young Adults Asserting Themselves (YAAT) and opened four preschools in Detroit. He was elected to Michigan's 36th District Court in 1995 and later worked as the manager of Detroit's Neighborhood City Halls. In 1998, The Judge Mathis Show was launched on Warner Brothers Television. Throughout his career, Judge Mathis has received numerous awards and honors, and currently serves on the boards of Rainbow/PUSH Excel and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as being a lifetime member of the NAACP.
Judge Faith Jenkins is the host of the longest-running court show on television, Divorce Court, where she employs a tough love approach to help couples resolve their personal and legal disputes. Prior to becoming a legal analyst exclusively with MSNBC, she has provided regular legal and social commentary on CNN, Fox News, and HLN, analyzing high-profile cases and legal issues nationwide. Before her television career, Judge Jenkins started her legal career at the prestigious law firm Sidley Austin LLP in New York, representing high-profile clients in a diverse array of complex commercial matters. She then joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office as a criminal prosecutor, handling hundreds of cases and serving as the lead attorney in numerous jury trials.
At age 33, Judge Lynn Toler was elected to the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court, where she served for over eight years. Currently, Judge Lynn co-hosts the television series Marriage Boot Camp. Her audio course, That Conversation: The Art of Communicating in Relationships, is available on Himalaya.com. Judge Toler began her television career in 2001 as the host of the nationally syndicated show Power of Attorney. She then hosted the long-running Divorce Court from 2006 until 2020. Judge Toler is the author of several books. Her 2007 memoir, My Mother's Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius, was praised by Ebony Magazine. In 2009, she co-authored Put It in Writing with Deborah Hutchison. Her 2012 book, Making Marriage Work: New Rules for an Old Institution, explored relationship advice. Most recently, Dear Sonali: Letters to the Daughter I Never Had was published in 2019. Over the years, Judge Toler has frequently appeared as a legal and relationship expert on shows like The Breakfast Club, Larry King Live, The Dr. Phil Show, and many others.
These three notable and outstanding African American judges led the way for a new generation of Black judges that take inspiration from their work. Our country has more diversity in the judicial branch than ever before. In fact, President Biden has appointed more Black judges than any president in history. These African American men and women consistently demonstrate a sense of resilience and confidence. They are the gavel for the Black community — the justice that we deserve. These are judges who will not only see the color of our skin, but also see our spirit, our character, and our intentions.
The fact that Black people are better represented in the judicial system is a huge step toward racial equity in courts. Rather than already assuming we are guilty and aggressive, we can look forward to an era of courts that will choose not to judge us by our tone, hand gestures, posture, lingo, background, financial status, or the sound of our voices; but by facts, receipts, and absolute evidence, which they will critique carefully.
Judge Greg Mathis, Judge Faith Jenkins, and Judge Lynn Toler are three honorary and successful judges that set the standard for Black youth that aspire to become judges. Their excellence and achievements have set the bar high for the next generation. These prominent Black judges will one day be in our history books and hold places of honor within our communites. They will be our ‘yes’ when others say ‘no’. They will be our compasses.
Anyla McDonald aspires to become a poet, short story writer, and essayist speaking about racism against Black people, current world problems, and hot topics. When she writes, she does it with purpose and passion. She feels destined to touch others with her words, and wants to be known as someone who takes a stand and impacts lives with her writing.
Anyla is a columnist for Tumbleweird and an intern at Taylored Living Magazine.
