I Refuse To Let You Go: Judge Mathis Wants His Wife Back

“I know you want to leave me. But I refuse to let you go.”

Judge Mathis is out here singing like David Ruffin.

The super star says he’s fighting to get his wife back after she pulled the plug on their 39-year marriage last week.

The TV judge opened up to TMZ at LAX Friday … making it loud and clear that divorce isn’t what he wants — adding he’s doing everything he can to turn things around and win Linda back while they’re still under the same roof, hoping she’ll have a change of heart.

He admits not making Linda his top priority during his career led to their downfall … and gives some sound advice to other men on how to avoid the same fate — which you can check out in the vid.

As for those infidelity rumors, he’s also got a thing or two to say about that, too!

Linda, filed for divorce Thursday, Aug. 22, citing their separation date as July 17 and listing the go-to irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.