Description

Audra and Judge Hatchett talk about her show, what draws people to court room shows, and more.

Transcript

Hot Topic With Judge Glenda Hatchett Audra Lowe: Welcome back everybody. It’s time for Hot Topics. We got a hot guest with us again here Judge Hatchett stayed around for a little bit. Thank you for joining us for Hot Topics. Glenda Hatchett: I’m happy to be here for Hot Topics. Audra: If you got to have a hot guest to do Hot Topics. Now you’re making a roll with this year. Glenda: Okay. I can. Audra: You can. The court shows are huge. Glenda: They have always been huge. Audra: What do you think is the big draw to shows like this I mean? Glenda: I think people are curious and also I think people like to see the end you know that there’s a solution. There’s a problem, there’s a solution, there’s a verdict that’s it. Audra: So your positive because I always thought because people want to see someone else’s drama played out. Glenda: I think you’re right. Audra: Did you always want to be a judge? Glenda: No, when I was a kid I wanted to be a pediatrician. Audra: You did? Glenda: Yeah I did when I was a little kid I wanted to be a pediatrician and then my younger brothers were always getting hurt and this blood thing didn’t work for me but then I wanted be an aeronautical engineer so this whole point of going to law school is a very different piece for me. Audra: But at least you have some big dreams I like that. Glenda: Big dreams yeah. Audra: But you have two boys? Glenda: I have two boys. Audra: Is it difficult to be a parent seeing what you’ve seen in the court room. Glenda: Well I’ll tell you what it really has helped me. I think that I, I think I’m a better Judge because I’m a parent. I think the fact that I have kids of my own I could go home and they were touchdowns I think there are kids in the world who dream really well and were happy and healthy and that would recharge me to get back on the bench the next day. Honestly I think if I didn’t have my own kids I don’t know that I could have stayed in this job very long. Audra: Really. Glenda: I really think so I think that that was the balance. Audra: It helps to keep you grounded in terms of what you’re doing? Glenda: I do. Audra: I would think it would be hard to be your kids though. Glenda: Yeah well my kids would tell you a different story if they were sitting here they would go well it was funny as quickly with one of my kids that is asked, do you watch your mom on TV and he says no I live it everyday. Audra: Exactly. Glenda: I don’t watch it, I live it. Audra: Well I have to ask you about this very interesting article that just came out in the New York Post. Here in New York Appeals Court throughout robbery conviction because apparently the judge kept calling the defense lawyer a clown and a silly in front of a jury so this guy he was you know in their for car jacking or something like that. I did not realize that what the judge says about the attorney and how much it could affect the trial itself. Glenda: The odd thing is that the defendant regardless is always entitled to a fair trail and our system is built on the presumption of innocence I mean that’s really the fundamental foundation of our criminal justice system and if the judge is really cuing your lawyer then what they say is that by association then you have the jury maybe tainted against you that they may have a prejudice against you because the judge has basically said some very unkind things although he may have been justified in calling the guy a clown is solely isn’t appropriate to call their attorney a clown and open court has that. Audra: If you’re making a lot of jokes or something like that so the word clown probably that’s something different to him when he was saying versus how it came across. That’s very interesting. Glenda: Well but the lawyer should have been reprimanded in chambers I think. Audra: That’s what they were saying. Glenda: Yes. Audra: You know your stuff. I read research okay what infuriates you the most when you’re in the courtroom someone that’s disrespectful, people that don’t take the process seriously what makes the most— ? Glenda: Disrespectful. You know out there, you’re out in a minute and second to that is the people who just down right flat laugh and I know they’re lying. Audra: You could tell a liar. Glenda: Oh absolutely I can read you. I read you like a book and the people say how did you know that judge but it’s just instinctively I just know. Audra: She’s got kids so she knows when their lying that’s a real mom right there. Thank you so much for being here. Glenda: It has been great. Audra: Congratulations on the show and the book too. Glenda: Thank you very much. I’m excited about this new book. Audra: Me too stay with us we’ll be right back.