The Jurist
"I never really expected to be a lawyer. I went to law school to expand my options, and while I was there, I discovered a passion for litigation. After my clerkship, I started litigating at Delta Air Lines, and I truly believed I would remain there for the balance of my career. I couldn't have been more wrong!"

After graduating from Emory University School of Law and completing a coveted clerkship in the U.S. Federal Courts, Judge Hatchett took a position at Delta Air Lines, where she would remain for almost 10 years. As the company's highest-ranking African-American woman, Judge Hatchett served dual roles in both the legal and public relations departments. As manager of public relations, she supervised global crisis management, and handled media relations for all of Europe, Asia and 50 U.S. cities. In fact, her outstanding contributions were recognized by Ebony Magazine, which named Hatchett one of the "100 Best and Brightest Women in Corporate America."

Judge Hatchett made the difficult decision to leave Delta in order to accept an appointment as chief presiding judge of the Fulton County, Georgia Juvenile Court. "If anyone had told me that I'd be a judge someday, I'd have said they were crazy! However, certain people I respect in the community asked me to consider the judgeship." Upon accepting the position, Judge Hatchett became Georgia's first African-American chief presiding judge of a state court and the department head of one of the largest juvenile court systems in the country. As Judge Hatchett states, "I simply could not turn down an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of wayward children."

Interventions / Mentoring
The compassionate mother of two quickly fell in love with her judicial role, and worked tirelessly during her eight-year tenure to make a difference in the lives of young people. The innovative judge soon garnered national attention for her "creative sentencing," which can still be seen today in the form of "interventions" on her television program, Judge Hatchett.

The concept of interventions was groundbreaking. Judge Hatchett worked in conjunction with community organizations and businesses including the Boys and Girls Clubs and Urban League to design a program where troubled youth would be exposed to successful executives and community leaders who would inspire them to make changes in their lives. Sentences often included sending troubled youth to one of the participating organizations in an effort to teach them how to take positive steps toward their futures.

After her first year on the bench, the local chapter of the National Bar Association recognized Judge Hatchett for her pioneering leadership in revolutionizing the Fulton County Juvenile Court system, selecting her as Outstanding Jurist of the Year.

Judge Hatchett was also honored with the Roscoe Pound Award, the highest award for Outstanding Work in Criminal Justice from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. The Spelman College Board of Trustees selected Judge Hatchett to receive the Outstanding Community Service Award, and she was also honored with the NAACP's Thurgood Marshall Award. In 1990, Judge Hatchett helped found the Truancy Intervention Project, which enlists the help of legal volunteers to provide early, positive intervention with children reported as truants.

Today's Woman
Judge Hatchett won a Prism Award (2003) for Best Unscripted Non-Fiction Series or Special for Television for the "Carrie's Out of Rehab" episode, a poignant look at addiction and recovery.

Judge Glenda Hatchett serves on the board of directors for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a Fortune 500 company that is the nation’s leading provider of healthcare services. She was named Woman of the Year by the national organization 100 Black Men of America, and one of the 10 Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of America.

Judge Hatchett did her undergraduate work at Mount Holyoke College, which presented her with an honorary degree and named her a Distinguished Alumna. Her other alma mater, Emory University Law School, named her Outstanding Alumni of the Year and presented her with the highest award given to university alumni, the Emory Medal, for her unwavering commitment to children's issues.

An Atlanta native, Judge Hatchett maintains her Atlanta residence where she lives with her two sons. She also keeps an apartment in New York City, where Judge Hatchett is produced.