Judge Glenda Hatchett

Glenda A. Hatchett was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She pursued her higher education at Mount Holyoke College, earning a B.A. in political science in 1973. Subsequently, she attended Emory University School of Law and received her Juris Doctor degree in 1977. Following her law degree, Hatchett completed a federal clerkship in the United States District Court in the Northern District of Georgia. She then joined Delta Air Lines, where she advanced to become the highest-ranking woman of color globally within the company, serving as both a senior attorney and public relations manager. Her contributions at Delta Air Lines were recognized by Ebony Magazine, which listed her as one of the “100 Best and Brightest Black Women in Corporate America” in January 1990. She was also awarded the Emory Medal, the highest honor given to an alumnus by Emory University, for her commitment to excellence and community service.

In 1990, Hatchett departed from Delta Air Lines to accept an appointment as the Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County, Georgia Juvenile Court. This role marked her as Georgia’s first African-American Chief Presiding Judge of a state court and head of one of the country’s largest juvenile court systems. Her tenure as a judge provided the foundation for her transition into television. In 2000, she began presiding over the nationally syndicated television show, “Judge Hatchett,” which aired for eight seasons until 2008. The program earned two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2008 and 2009. The show, known for its “tough love” approach, addressed juvenile delinquency cases and paternity disputes.

Beyond her judicial and television career, Glenda Hatchett is an author of national bestsellers, including “Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say” (2004) and “Dare to Take Charge: How to Live Your Life on Purpose” (2010), which became a #1 National Bestseller. She has also served on the Boards of Directors for several Fortune 500 companies, including HCA, The Gap Inc., and The ServiceMaster Company. Since 2004, she has been a board member of the Atlanta Falcons Football Organization. In 2014, she established The Hatchett Firm, PC, a national law firm specializing in catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, and class action lawsuits. Hatchett remains an active motivational speaker, delivering keynotes at events such as the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. In 2015, she delivered the Holmes-Hunter Lecture at the University of Georgia, honoring civil rights pioneers. In 2016, she returned to television with “The Verdict with Judge Hatchett,” demonstrating her continued presence in the legal and media spheres.