Her father instilled in her the feeling that there was nothing in the world she couldn't do. Judge Hatchett looks back her relationship with her parents and believes them to be the source of her passion about the work she does now. Judge Hatchett has worked tirelessly to help make a difference for today's youth She served for eight years as Judge of the Fulton County, Georgia Juvenile Court becoming the state's first African American chief presiding justice of a state court and the department head of one of the largest juvenile court systems in the country. Judge Hatchett is a committed jurist and activist, possessing a unique point of view on today's pressing issues. According to statistics, a child who drops out of school is three and a half times more likely to have a criminal record than a child who finishes high school.
Truancy is the number one predictor among boys of future criminal activities.
As a juvenile court judge, Judge Hatchett has developed partnerships with organizations such as the Boys' and Girls' Clubs and the Urban League to provide outreach and support to the families in need who have entered her courtroom. She has enlisted the help of organizations such as the Atlanta Junior League for the Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardian Ad Litem programs for children in foster care or group homes. Judge Hatchett's career in both the corporate area and the judicial system illustrates her ability to create positive change in a variety of environments. She has excelled in the U.S. federal courts, first in a coveted federal clerkship position and then as a corporate attorney for Delta Air Lines. Judge Hatchett was then appointed Chief Judge of Juvenile Court in the Fulton County Court System.