1 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: Two boys from my old neighborhood were best friends. They 2 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: lived on the same street and were the same grade 3 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: in school. Eric was a tremendous athlete, football baseball star. 4 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: He was a student government rep. He was one of 5 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: those just all around good guys. Everybody liked him. Jeremy 6 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: was not involved in anything extracurricular, no clubs, no sports, 7 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,919 Speaker 1: nothing school sponsored at all. When they were seniors, they 8 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: pulled a stunt, They got caught, They got suspended for 9 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: five days. That should have been it equal treatment. But 10 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: because Eric was suspended that week, he couldn't play in 11 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: the big game. Because he couldn't play in the big game, 12 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: the colleges that were scouting him didn't get to see 13 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: him play, so they stopped recruiting. The principal didn't feel 14 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: like his actions kind of supported the moral character of 15 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: student government, so he was asked to resign his position. 16 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: Then his girlfriend's parents said, he's basically a hoodlum and 17 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: we don't want you to see him anymore. I always 18 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 1: felt that what happened to Eric was far worse than 19 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: what happened to Jeremy. Five days after being off of school, 20 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: Jeremy's life didn't change at all, Eric's changed forever, and 21 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: I of course was just lamenting about it, having my 22 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: soapbox about it, saying how unjust it was. And my 23 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: dad finally said, the more you have, the more you 24 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: have to lose. Now, y'all want to tell you something. 25 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: They say you can't go home again. They say, don't 26 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: meet your heroes. But I feel like I am headed 27 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: to a reunion with a hometown hero of mine. Y'all, 28 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: this is the first time that I am able to 29 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: welcome Judge Glinda Hatchett to Zone seven. Now I want 30 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: to tell y'all a little bit about her. You know 31 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: her from TVs. Judge Hatchett and from the Verdict with 32 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: Judge Hatchett. We are both Native Atlantans, but that ain't 33 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: how we met. She graduated from law school at Emory. 34 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: From there, she did a federal clerkship in the US 35 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: District Court of Northern Georgia. Followed that, she had a 36 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: coveted position with Delta Airlines. She served not only as 37 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: their senior attorney but also the head of their public relations. 38 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: She litigated cases in federal court and supervised global issues 39 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: from Asia, Europe and the United States. Ebity magazine recognized 40 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: her as one of the one hundred Best and Brightest 41 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: Black Women in Corporate America. January of nineteen ninety, Emory 42 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: University awarded her the Emory Medal for her commitment to 43 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: excellence with service to the community. In nineteen ninety, she 44 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: had a hard decision to make. She decided to leave 45 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: Delta Airlines and accept an appointment as the Chief Presiding 46 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: Judge over the Fulton County Juvenile Court. What she has 47 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: gone on to do is earn two Daytime Emmy Award nominations. 48 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: She became a best selling author. Her book Say What 49 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: You Mean and Mean what You say? Lord of That 50 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: don't sound like her followed up with Dare to Take Charge. 51 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: How to live your life Life on purpose, y'all. To 52 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: know where is to respect her and to just love 53 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: her and know that you are in the midst of greatness. 54 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: But listen now, this is where our paths cross. In 55 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: the first moment that I met Judge Hatchett, every single 56 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: thing that I had thought previously about Juvenile Court ceased 57 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: to exist. I was watching greatness and I knew it. 58 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: I was assigned to Operational Weed and Seed. That's the 59 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: most violent zone in Atlanta, if you know, you know, 60 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: And every now and then I would have somebody get 61 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: in a lot of trouble in juvenile court, and I 62 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: would always try to go with them because we had 63 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: Thomasville Heights, Inglewood Manor Capital homes in four seasons. Zone 64 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: three back in the late eighties and early nineties was violent, y'all. 65 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: It was mob cooked and street gang fed baby all 66 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: day long. Judge Hatchett, Welcome to Zone seven. 67 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 2: Oh, Cheryl christ of All. I'm so full. I'm very 68 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: touched by that introduction. And you know, what a blessing 69 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: to reconnect with you after all of these years. And 70 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: as you're saying all these wonderful things about me. 71 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: Your audience needs to know that you have been righteously 72 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 3: on the front lines battling for justice, and you've always 73 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: been that way. 74 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: And I am just grateful for your life and your 75 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: dedication because I know that you turn lives around and 76 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 2: for that, I am very grateful, very very grateful. 77 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: Well those words mean more than you know. Let me 78 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: tell y'all something. When I was first assigned to operational 79 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: wait and see through the Crime Commission, they sent me 80 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: out there with the Atlanta Police Department there was no book, 81 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: There was no how do we do this? How do 82 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: we get into a community that needs so much help 83 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: and really make a difference. The first time, Judge, I 84 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: ever met you, I walk in, I've got a little 85 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: fellow that you're gonna remember. You noticed. I guess that, hey, 86 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: there must be more to this. And the very first 87 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: conversation you and I ever had was a sidebar. You 88 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: brought me up and you were like, what's happening? And 89 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: I said, well, we got a little fellow here that 90 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: made a mistake absolutely, Judge, do you remember Gator? 91 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 2: Yes? Oh yeah, my goodness, I don't because of any 92 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 2: and you don't mean that in a derogatory day. I 93 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: just remember that it was. 94 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: It was a scene movie worthy. So y'all let me 95 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: paint the picture. This little fellow was eight years old, 96 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: and he was a tiny eight. 97 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: Year old, I mean really tiny for. 98 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: It tiny, but he had a smile that took up 99 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: most of his face. And that's why they called him Gator. 100 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: And everybody loved him. When I tell you, how sweet 101 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: and how kind, just what hug you wanted to be 102 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: around you, always smiling, always happy. But he of course 103 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: heard all the older boys talking all the time, and 104 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: he thought, Hey, whatever they do, I'm gonna do. He 105 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: just thought that was the thing to do, and he 106 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: stole a car. And judge, do you remember what the 107 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: police thought was happening. 108 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: Well, let me tell you what happened. First of all, 109 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: when he was in my crproom. I mean like, first 110 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: of all, as you said, he was so small for 111 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: an eight year old and kill and I'm like, why 112 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 2: is this precious little boy in my courtroom? 113 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 4: The way he got caught the police because he was 114 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 4: so little he was, he scooted it down in the 115 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 4: car because he couldn't. 116 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: Touch the accelerator and the brake, so he is like 117 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: trying to drive, stretched down, scoot it down, And the 118 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: police honestly thought that the car had disengaged and was 119 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: rolling on his own and they were trying to stop 120 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: the car, only to find Gator was in the car. 121 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: Yep, fantastic. But let me tell you took him and 122 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: spoke to him in such a loving, caring way to 123 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: make him understand. You could have been killed, You could 124 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: have killed somebody else, but you were not going to 125 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: put that child in that revolving. You weren't gonna do it. 126 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: I wasn't gonna do it because the truth is that 127 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 2: he did not understand. Honestly, he was such a good kid. 128 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: He was scared to death coming to court because I'm 129 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: sure everybody had told him I was going to put 130 00:08:57,960 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 2: him in jail. 131 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: Yes, he was such a good kid. 132 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 2: And when I talked to him, he had such a 133 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 2: good car car. And remember, Cheryl, the reason that he 134 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 2: took the car is that he took the car to 135 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 2: take it to show his mom. That's right, because they 136 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: never had a car. They couldn't afford a car. They 137 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 2: were in a situation when they and so he took 138 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 2: the car. He never intended to keep the car. He 139 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 2: was going to take it home, show this cool car 140 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 2: to his mom. And he hadn't thought through taking it back, 141 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: how I was going to get it back. He certainly 142 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 2: hadn't thought to the consequences. He certainly didn't understand the 143 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 2: police was gonna stop him, and he certainly didn't understand 144 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 2: that he was going to end up in court that day. 145 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 2: And thank god, he ended up in my courtroom. Amen, 146 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: there was no way on this green earth now I 147 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: was gonna put that child, an eight year old, in 148 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 2: jail with kids for what have Oh my god, goodness 149 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 2: and so. But but you remember I was strong with 150 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: him and I said, listen, what you did, and that's 151 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 2: the whole thing you could. I mean, he really thank 152 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: god he didn't hit anything. Thank God he didn't get hurt. 153 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: Thank God he didn't hurt somebody else, was what I 154 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 2: told him. But I was not gonna lock that baby up. 155 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: And when we left there that day, he looked at 156 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: me and he went, she scared me. I said, she 157 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: scared me too. Listen, and I told him, I said, 158 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: she meant exactly what she said to you, because you 159 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: looked at him and again, with all the love, you 160 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: talked to him so beautifully. But you told him I 161 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 1: better not ever ever see. 162 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 2: You in my courtroom again. And I looked at it. 163 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 2: I said, ever, you bet not, I bet not ever 164 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: ever see you in my courtroom again. 165 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 1: And you did not, and I did not. 166 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: I did not. I would love to know where Cator 167 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 2: is now, to know what he's doing, and love to, 168 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: you know, just see him again. But that could have 169 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 2: been very different. I mean, he could have gotten caught 170 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 2: up and his life would have been changed forever. 171 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: And you know, everybody now knows about creative sentencing and 172 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 1: all that sort of stuff. But back then I had 173 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: never heard of it. I sure Lord had never seen 174 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: it in action. And I remember coming home that night 175 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: and telling Walt, I had just seen the most amazing 176 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 1: thing I had ever seen. I knew a life had 177 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: been saved. I knew that he was now back on 178 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: the path he should have been. And I thought, you 179 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 1: know what, here with weed and see, we're going to 180 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: be able to do some things. So I came back 181 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: to you, right and I said, Judge, if it would 182 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: be all right. It's not like you weren't busy enough 183 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: because you had one of the largest juvenile court systems 184 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: in the country. 185 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 2: In the country, that's true. 186 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: But I said, if I could bring some of the 187 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: children to your courtroom and let you just talk to 188 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: them and let them see, hey, wait a minute, she 189 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: looks like me. And she's a judge, you know, and 190 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,079 Speaker 1: she's from Atlanta. She sounds like me. 191 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 2: Way, and you can be a judge too. 192 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: And here we have these children that we brought. Not 193 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: only did you talk to them and take great time, 194 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: you pose for pictures, You let them hold the gavel, 195 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: and you just gave them this just raw and honest 196 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: talk about school and parents and home and friends in 197 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: the neighborhood. 198 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 2: And you told them. 199 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: All of you, all of you can be better than 200 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: where you are. You don't have to let that dictate 201 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: anything to you. 202 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 2: Your pastes and not have to define your future. 203 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 1: It does a men. And you told them something so cool, 204 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: because I don't think they ever realized this is your courthouse. 205 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: And you told them, not your court house for you 206 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: to be sitting out there, but to be sitting right here, 207 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: and you pointed to your chair. I'll never forget it. Remarkable. 208 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 2: You know, we have some other cases that we you know, 209 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 2: we can talk about because we really have to be 210 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 2: in the business of trying to change the direction of 211 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: their lives. And I got a lot of grief. I 212 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: got a lot of criticism because they said, oh, that 213 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 2: judge is down there just coddling those children. She's just 214 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 2: coddling those children. But I knew what I was doing instinctively. 215 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: I mean, I've never been a judge for it. As 216 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: you know, as you said to your audience, I came 217 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,359 Speaker 2: out of corporate America, but I came with the heart 218 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 2: of really trying to change that system. And so I 219 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 2: got our With the help of people like you who 220 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: understood what I was trying to do, we got that 221 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: recent It isn't right down the single digit that is 222 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 2: unheard of single digit anywhere in this country. 223 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: We got it down to nine percent nine modeling it is. 224 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 2: It is mind Bob and I and I can't pure 225 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: you know what, because now it's's just too easy on 226 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 2: these kids. But I knew what I was doing. I 227 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 2: was trying to keep them out of the system. I 228 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 2: was very creative with alternative cysts, sentencings. And if you recall, 229 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: we started the first pilot of a relationship with the 230 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: Boys and Girls Club. Back then it was Boys and 231 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: Girls Club. It was both boys and girls club. Now, 232 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 2: I mean it was this boy's club back then. Now 233 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 2: it's you know, it's joint gets girls too. And I 234 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 2: would send the kids. I would say, Okay, if you 235 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 2: do X, Y and Z and I get a good report, 236 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: then I will close this case and you won't have 237 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 2: a record. And I and so you know, I got 238 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 2: pushed back from people in the system, but I also 239 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 2: got some pushback from the people and Girls Club and 240 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 2: Frank Sanchez. To this day, it's still a close ally 241 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 2: and we did shoulders. So because there were people like, 242 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 2: we don't want those bad kids in the boys and 243 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 2: girls club. In the boys club, then boy, we don't 244 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: want them. And so you know, I had to do 245 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 2: a lot of educating on that side too. But I 246 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 2: can go back and tell you that there were very 247 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 2: few children who fell off the track. And that's what 248 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 2: I needed. I need it, and that's what we did 249 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: with the Truancy Intervention Project. As you well know, let's 250 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 2: get these kids off the streets, let's get them back 251 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 2: in school. Chief Graham came over to see me one day. 252 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 2: I'll make this story short, Chief Graham Blewis Graham was 253 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: fulting Chief of Fulton count of Police. He came over. 254 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 2: He's a big guy. He came over. I told he 255 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: told you my secretary, I need to talk to the judge. 256 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 2: So you know, she passed me. You know, so soon, you know, 257 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 2: since I took a break finish one of whatever was doing. 258 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 2: I came in. He said, Judge, I heard that you 259 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 2: stopped and picked up some kids off the street and 260 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 2: took them to school this morning. I said, yes, I did. Chief. 261 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 2: He said, you can't do that anymore. I said, Chief, 262 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 2: I saw these kids. They was school age. I stopped 263 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 2: my car and I put them in my car. I 264 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 2: go to school because you and I know, And what 265 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 2: I want your audience to know, is it a child 266 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: who drops out of school, it's three and a half 267 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 2: times more likely to have a criminal record. And so 268 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: we got it. We gotta do better. We've got to 269 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 2: do better about keeping our kids in school and encourage 270 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 2: And I did a lot of workers on National Board 271 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 2: of Boys and Girls Club and I would always say, 272 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 2: you know, because there are kids in these clubs after school, 273 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 2: which we know three to six is the highest incident 274 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 2: of teenage pregnancy. You think it would be, you know, 275 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: at night, on the weekends or whatever, but no, it's 276 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 2: that unsupervised time where kids are being recruited by drug 277 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 2: dealers or some some no good older guys. It's come here, baby, 278 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,959 Speaker 2: let me rock your world. And so we have to 279 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 2: really be intentional. And that's why I so respect you 280 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 2: and the work that you have done, because we can 281 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: change this. We can change it. And as you have 282 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 2: heard me say many a time that if we can 283 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 2: get a hold of these young people, now get them 284 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 2: on the right track out of the system, then we 285 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 2: are making a head start on their children's children's children's 286 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: children's children, and in a way that the work lives 287 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 2: beyond us. And I so believe in this. I just 288 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 2: so believe in this work. 289 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: But that's the sermon, that's what people need to hear. 290 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 1: Saving this one child saves generationally. 291 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 2: Yes, so we know. Let me tell you what we 292 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 2: know from studies. We know that talked about the true 293 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 2: and see three and a half times more likely to 294 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 2: have a criminal record. But we also know from these 295 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:30,400 Speaker 2: studies that if a child drops out of school, they 296 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 2: are seven times more likely to have a child who 297 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 2: would drop out of school. And so we've got to 298 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: change Who've got to change this whole dynamics, the projectory 299 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 2: of all of this. And they are then seven times 300 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 2: more likely to be dependent on welfare during the lifetime. 301 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 2: And so I used to also say over and over, 302 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 2: and I would go and incruiting corporate partners and religious 303 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 2: partners and social services partners, trying to reread the fabric 304 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: of our community and bringing different stakeholders to the table. 305 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 2: As you know, I used to have these bring your bag, 306 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 2: bring your own lunch, and I would do drinks and desserts. 307 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 2: And so I would have people from the housing authority 308 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 2: and the police department, in the school department and the 309 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 2: you know whatever, all these different stakeholders, because we can't 310 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 2: operate in silos. And what I do know to be 311 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:35,919 Speaker 2: true is that we have to figure out these stronger alliances. 312 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 2: And what I do know to be true is that 313 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 2: if we can keep our kids in school and engage 314 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 2: and they have some hope of further opportunities, then we're 315 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 2: making a head start. And so I'd always say, listen, 316 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 2: we're gonna do one or two things. Either we're gonna 317 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 2: invest heavily on the front end like programs had Start 318 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 2: and really figured out how we do after school programs 319 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 2: and you know, the big proponent of after school programs 320 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,959 Speaker 2: and how do we do that and a set this 321 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 2: national organization and talking about that and been in Washington 322 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 2: and blah blah blah. But the point is that either 323 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 2: we're going to spend the money and the time the 324 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 2: energy to pour in on the front end or what 325 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 2: I say had Start, meaning kind of generically not just 326 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 2: the head start program, but giving this generation a head start, 327 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 2: Or we're going to pay deeply on what I call 328 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 2: back in costs for prison and so when I was 329 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 2: on the bench. And I haven't looked at the numbers lately, 330 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 2: but I used to pull out the numbers and say, listen, 331 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 2: it costs me four times as much to incarce your 332 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 2: way a jewel now in Fulton County that it would 333 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: be me to send them for a year that it 334 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 2: would send me to send them to the University of 335 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 2: Georgia full time. That's as much. 336 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: That's the truth. 337 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 2: And people don't know that tuition it would cost me 338 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 2: four times what it would cost me to send them 339 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 2: to college for a year. What is wrong with that picture? 340 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 1: That's right. You could take what it would cost to 341 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: house them in juvenile corrections and then send them to 342 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: private school and save money. 343 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 2: That is really true. 344 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: It is absolutely true. Woodward would be a song compared 345 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: to what it would put in the incarceration fund. Your 346 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 1: world's apart. 347 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 2: And the other thing too, is I used to have 348 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 2: to fight. I would show up at you know me, 349 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 2: I would show guess at the school board meetings. 350 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, oh, I show up. 351 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 2: You know I would show up and they were like 352 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 2: stunned because they'd never had anybody do that before. And 353 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 2: I'm like, no, I'm going to be here. I'm going 354 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: to be right here because they were going to cut 355 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 2: the budget for the school in the detention set there 356 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: and I'm seeing you. You know, the kids who are 357 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 2: in the detention center still need to go to school 358 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 2: because then when they get out, they're going to be 359 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: so far behind. Then they are going to really feel 360 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 2: hopeless and they're going to be likely candidates to drop 361 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 2: out of school. Well, we don't think. I'm like, listen, 362 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 2: I don't care what you think. I need this budget. 363 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 2: I do not need the budget cut. And I will 364 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 2: be here every meeting until you decide that you're going 365 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 2: to do right. 366 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: And that's another thing that I won't be able to hear. 367 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: You did not stay in the Ivory tower they call 368 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: it with your row bone having coffee. No, you're in 369 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: the street, you were in the school board meeting, you're 370 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: in the community center, you're in the churches. Everybody knew you. 371 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 2: Urban League. I had I had them put a phone 372 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 2: on my you member. I had them put a phone 373 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 2: in the in the on the on. 374 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 5: The bench, yes, ma'am, because I would have to keep 375 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 5: popping up going to my office and I would call 376 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 5: Linda Wade, then was the head of Urban League in Atlanta, 377 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 5: and I said, listen, Lina, I. 378 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: Need a job for this father so I can get 379 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 2: this family stabilized. So I get this kid in the 380 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 2: same school district. But you know, and so I would 381 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 2: call missus Sherman because I grew up here like you 382 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 2: grew up here. 383 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: That's right, that's right. 384 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 2: And then one principal said, sent me a message and 385 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 2: said I don't want him school. Excuse me what? And 386 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 2: so I had to show calls because what was happening 387 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 2: is that they were showing the kids on the wall 388 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: but then opening the door and tell them don't come 389 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 2: back because they were trouble makers. Oh, I had a fit, 390 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 2: and I said, you know I had. I said, I'm 391 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 2: calling you in here, but the next time I'm calling 392 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 2: you in here, it will be for hearing to hold 393 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,120 Speaker 2: you in contemptal court. And I mean that. And I said, 394 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 2: and the next person I will call will be the superintendent, 395 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 2: your boss. And I don't think any of you all 396 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 2: want to be held in contemptal courts. So when I 397 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 2: ordered a child back into school, I mean it. I 398 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 2: mean exactly that. 399 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: And that wasn't just an order to that child. That's 400 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: to the principal and his teacher and everybody. 401 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 2: Else, everybody. I said, I want this child back in school. 402 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 2: I want this child enroll. If it was a Friday, 403 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 2: I want that child enroll by eight o'clock, nine o'clock 404 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 2: Monday morning. And I meant that. So one parent said, 405 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 2: very early on, she said, there is a blankety blank 406 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 2: down town who is threatening to the lock up parents 407 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 2: because the child. I ordered the child, the mother to 408 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 2: go put the child in school. Child's right back in 409 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: my courtroom. A few months later, having burglarize somebody's house. 410 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 2: She never enrolled him in school. So she said, well, 411 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 2: this is Jemini Court. You can't lock me up. 412 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 4: I said, watch me. 413 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 2: I have jurisdiction over anybody who contributes to the delinquency 414 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 2: or the deprivation of the child. And you have done 415 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 2: you have done both. I said, you think I'm playing 416 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 2: with you. Oh, you know how it would be in court. 417 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 2: So then in the work out around that blankety blank, 418 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: that blankly downtown, she gonna be lacking folk up yep. 419 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 2: And I meant that. 420 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: You know, all right, judge, I got to tell on you. 421 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: Yes you have the phone put right there on the bench, 422 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: and yes you used it for so much good. But 423 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: let me tell you what I remember. I remember when 424 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: you would give somebody a directive and then they would 425 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,959 Speaker 1: come in with their excuse. Well I tried to do 426 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,919 Speaker 1: the community service, but so and so happened. Oh so 427 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: you couldn't get with mister David. Hold on, you knew 428 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: the number by heart, and then you could see everybody else. 429 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: Is that crazy? So and so calling David? Wait, she's 430 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: checking my story right now in front of everybody, right now, 431 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: in front of God and country. You're gonna call David 432 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: because number one David knows too. David. If I send 433 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: somebody to you to pick up trash on p Stree Street, 434 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: that's exactly what they better be doing, right. I mean, 435 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: you could watch people's faces and it was like, well, 436 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 1: the next one is not gonna get up and tell 437 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: some story because Judge Hash is gonna call. 438 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,719 Speaker 2: Oh I'm gonna call. And the other thing is the 439 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 2: court reporters used to tease me because they said, Judge, 440 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 2: we don't even know why we're in here taking stuff 441 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 2: down because you can remember stuff for beata, because somebody 442 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: would say something and I said no, no, no, you just 443 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 2: said so and so so I said, no, let's just 444 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 2: check it. Would you read that back on the record 445 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 2: and it would be exactly what I just said. And 446 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 2: they come back in six months later, and I could 447 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 2: remember everything that My own children at home like hated 448 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 2: that because I can remember everything that was to get 449 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 2: that God gave me. But you come back in here 450 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 2: a year later, and I'd be like, Cheryl, excuse me. Now, 451 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 2: we had this conversation when you were in here, and 452 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 2: what did I tell you? I told you if you 453 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 2: came back in here one more time with this foolishness, 454 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 2: you weren't gonna go home. Did I not tell you that? Yes, ma'am. 455 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 2: One kid literally came and turned himself up in He 456 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 2: showed up. This is a true story show. He shows 457 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 2: up at the courthouse and they said, Judge, so and 458 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 2: so is here. I said, why is he here? He 459 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 2: says he needs to talk to you. He said, Judge, 460 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,640 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna come in right now. I messed up. 461 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 2: You told me to do this, that and the other. 462 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 2: I didn't do it. I was running with the wrong crowd. 463 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 2: You told me not to do it. I got in trouble. 464 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 2: So I'm just coming here to turn myself in, right now. 465 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 2: I said, well, there's a certain thing called due process. 466 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 2: Let's get you a warrior. Let's just you know, me 467 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,959 Speaker 2: appoint a public defense, you know. But he was like, Judge, 468 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 2: I already know what's gonna happen. You already told me. 469 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 2: You already told me what's gonna happen. Uh. And you 470 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 2: know the old stadium I was walking across taking my 471 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 2: own sons to a Braves game lit one afternoon. The 472 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 2: kids were hollering out the windows, you know, hollering they 473 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,679 Speaker 2: saw me, and then my kids I was randow on 474 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 2: the bench and they were like, what is going on, mommy? 475 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,399 Speaker 2: Why are they calling you? And I said, who's calling you? 476 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,719 Speaker 2: And I said though my children. And my kids were like, well, 477 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 2: we don't say that they are not your children. We 478 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 2: are your children. I said, no, they're my children now too. 479 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 2: And so I had to explain to my own sons 480 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 2: why this was important and why I was because they 481 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 2: were looking at me kind of crazy. You know, you 482 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 2: left Delta Airlines and now we don't get to do 483 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,359 Speaker 2: a lot of stuff anymore. You know, we get in 484 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 2: the back and people don't give us or dirbs or whatever. 485 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 2: So you know, I'm glad to know name cheap anyway. 486 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 2: So my point is that it was, you know, a 487 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: big buying from my family as well. 488 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: Well, Judge, I got to tell you. We've talked a 489 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: lot about statistics and numbers and creative sentencing, but I 490 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: just want to talk directly to you, and I want 491 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: to tell a story about Miss Hattie. 492 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes. 493 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: So there were two little boys that, like boys will 494 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: do sometimes, just decide to do something a little mischievous. Well, 495 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: they decided they were going to push this mailbox over 496 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: and hit it with some baseball bats and damage it 497 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: and run off, and that's what they did. Well, they 498 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,719 Speaker 1: got caught. They got in front of you, and you said, listen, 499 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: I could do this to you or this to you, 500 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: or this to you and put you in the system, 501 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to 502 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: make y'all face the victim and she's going to tell 503 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: you what your actions caused her. So Mss Hattie came 504 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: to court and there they were, and she started to 505 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: speak and she was very kind to them, and she 506 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 1: let them know, I don't think y'all meant to do 507 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: the harm that you did. But back then, y'all she 508 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: would get her Social Security check, but there was no 509 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: such thing as direct deposit. She had to get that 510 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: check and go to the bank to put it in 511 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: in order to pay her rent and to eat and 512 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: to keep her lights on. So she explained that to them, 513 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: I didn't have any money because I didn't have a mailbox, 514 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: and they weren't just going to leave it on the street. 515 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: So she had to wait. I don't know how many 516 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: weeks it was for them to be able to reissue 517 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: the check or bring it back to her. She explained 518 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 1: all that. She explained that she couldn't get any correspondent, 519 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 1: she wasn't getting her bills, so she couldn't pay them. Again, 520 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: for the young people listening, there was no way to 521 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 1: pay on your phone. You had to write a check 522 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: and mail it, but you had to have the bill 523 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 1: to do that. It cost her a lot of pain, 524 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: and then, being on a fixed income, she did not 525 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: have the money to buy the new mailbox, plus the cement, 526 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,479 Speaker 1: plus everything else she'd have to do to put it 527 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: back in the ground. She was elderly and couldn't physically 528 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: do it. So you told them, y'all are going to 529 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: buy her a mailbox, and y'all are going to go 530 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:57,479 Speaker 1: install that mailbox. And if you need help from your 531 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: daddy or your brothers, or your uncles or neighbors, go 532 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 1: get them. But y'all are going to do it. And 533 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: you gave them a certain amount of time, and they 534 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 1: were the three of them to come back. Well, Judge, 535 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: when they came back into that courtroom, not only had 536 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: they done what you told them to do with the mailbox, 537 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: they cut her grass. They helped her put some new 538 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: flowers in. They helped you know, she had like a 539 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 1: board or so, you know, loose on her porch. They 540 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: fixed that. They stayed in Miss Hattie's life till they 541 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: were out of high school, doing things for her. So 542 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: I want you to know it was not just that moment. 543 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: And because they were afraid that there was going to be, 544 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: you know, worse punishment down the road if they saw 545 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: you again, they legitimately became Miss Hattie's family. 546 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 2: Oh my god, that is so wonderful. Oh I love it. 547 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: I love it. 548 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 2: I'm tearing up listening to that. 549 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 1: So thank you for that. 550 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for sharing, thank you for sharing that. Oh, 551 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 2: thank you. That touches my soul. That is why people 552 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 2: were gonna fit me for a straight jacket when I 553 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 2: left Delton, making a lot of money and stock options 554 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 2: to get flying nowhere in the world. But as I've 555 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 2: told you before, that was not my decision. That was 556 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 2: God's decision to move me there, and that is where 557 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: I found my purpose and passion. And even though I 558 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 2: was asked about moving to a higher court, moving to 559 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 2: a pellet court in Georgia or a federal court, I 560 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 2: didn't ever want. I never aspired to go any other 561 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 2: other court, and I would have never applied for a 562 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:45,240 Speaker 2: judge ship had it not been juvenile Court because in 563 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 2: my heart to this day, I still believe that it's 564 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 2: the most important court in the system, because if we 565 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 2: get it right there, then we can turn a lot 566 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 2: of lives around and can save a lot of lives 567 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 2: and take anyway thing away from the Supreme Court, of 568 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 2: the Georgia, Court of Appeical all of them have important work, 569 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 2: but I still believe, in my heart of hearts that 570 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 2: the Juvenile Court is the most important court because it 571 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 2: can either be the gateway to prison further on, or 572 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 2: it can be what my father would tell me was 573 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 2: the intersection of New Hope Road, and I didn't understand 574 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,720 Speaker 2: that growing up, I get it, you know, really understand 575 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 2: it as an adult. He said, if you get to 576 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 2: the intersection and you make the decision to turn off 577 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 2: of the bad road that you're on and turn on 578 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 2: to New Hope Road, and you walk down that road 579 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:52,600 Speaker 2: far enough, if you look back over your shoulder, you 580 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 2: can no longer see the old road. And I've told 581 00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 2: that story more times than I can ever remember. Lead 582 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,760 Speaker 2: that in my heart, and I believe that if we 583 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 2: do a better job in juvenile court of having not 584 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 2: only young people but their families, because I believe, you know, 585 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:16,359 Speaker 2: I believe a holistic approach to the work that I 586 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 2: did in juvenile court, that if you turn that corner 587 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:23,359 Speaker 2: of New Hope Road. And my father died suddenly thirty 588 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:27,280 Speaker 2: years ago, but I thank him for that lesson because 589 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,759 Speaker 2: it is a lesson that I've shared with so many 590 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 2: young people and so many families over the years, because 591 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,839 Speaker 2: that is what this has to be about. And Cheryl, 592 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 2: I thank God for you. I thank God for the 593 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 2: work you have done, and just thank God for you. 594 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:48,319 Speaker 2: I don't know how else to say it. 595 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 1: Well, ma'am, you have taught me so much. And one 596 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:53,319 Speaker 1: thing you would always say to us is the more 597 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,840 Speaker 1: goodwill and understanding you can generate, the better off we 598 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 1: will all be. And you live that. You don't just 599 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 1: write it down. You don't just say it from the bench. 600 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,840 Speaker 1: You live it, you walk it. 601 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:09,359 Speaker 2: Everybody thinks I'm just a judge, but I am a 602 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 2: great lawyer. And you know, if you've got a serious gauge, 603 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 2: you want me in the courtroom fighting for you. I'm 604 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 2: based here in Atlanta, but I take cases from all 605 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 2: of the countries. You know, my daughter died tragically in 606 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen after giving birth to their second child, needlessly. 607 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:31,839 Speaker 2: So I am doing wrongful death cases. I mean, I'm 608 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:34,520 Speaker 2: going to be doing some maternal death cases now because 609 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 2: I'm emotionally strong enough to do it. Wasn't it first. 610 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:40,439 Speaker 2: So I do sexual assault cases. You know I've also 611 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 2: been a victim of sexual assault. I'm doing premises liability, 612 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 2: as I said, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries from chucking, and 613 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:53,439 Speaker 2: auto accidents. And I'm at the firm of Stuart Miller 614 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 2: Simmons here in Atlanta, and the season to find me 615 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:02,359 Speaker 2: it's fural for Walker for a law firm, or you 616 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 2: can just text to the number twenty one thousand, and 617 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 2: we'll go into a system and so one will get 618 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:09,520 Speaker 2: back to you. 619 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: And I'll tell you what else I'll do for everybody listening. 620 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 1: I'm going to add a link, not just to the 621 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: law firm. I think there's a QR code and some 622 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: other things. I'm going to make it easy to find her, 623 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:24,359 Speaker 1: especially if you need her. Yes, And I'll tell you know, 624 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: I didn't bring it up to me. It wasn't worth 625 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:29,399 Speaker 1: bringing up for a thousand reasons. But here's the part 626 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 1: that is worth bringing up again. You've lived it, you've 627 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 1: walked it. You've shown that you don't just talk about 628 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,800 Speaker 1: justice when it's somebody else that's been hurt. You were hurt, 629 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 1: you were assaulted, and you stood up and you pointed 630 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:46,279 Speaker 1: to him and you said what he did and you 631 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:50,719 Speaker 1: stood by it, and you've got justice, not just for yourself. 632 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,120 Speaker 2: Thank you, Cheryl. I appreciate that. I never wanted to 633 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 2: be the post a child for sexual assault. But God 634 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 2: puts you where you're supposed to be. And if it 635 00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:04,040 Speaker 2: had to happen to someone's best that it happened to me, 636 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:06,920 Speaker 2: and that is not probably the right word. It's better 637 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,399 Speaker 2: that it happened to me. Because I have the support, 638 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 2: I know, the law. People really rallied around me, and 639 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 2: the number of people from all of the country. I've 640 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:20,120 Speaker 2: had people even from outside the country reach out to say, Judge, 641 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:25,399 Speaker 2: thank you. I didn't have the strength or didn't know 642 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 2: what to do when it happened to me, and I 643 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 2: felt like you have stood up for a lot of women, 644 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 2: and you've given other women courage now to speak their truth, and. 645 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: You saved who knows how many future victims because you 646 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 1: stopped him. 647 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 2: Yes, that's true, that is true. That is true, and 648 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 2: others like him who think that this is really okay. 649 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 2: So I do take on representing representing sexual assault victims 650 00:37:53,239 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 2: in addition to primisis liability. And so if people need me, 651 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:01,439 Speaker 2: thank you for posting so we will be sure. If 652 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 2: you let April mail, will be sure post the link 653 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 2: to this podcast so that people will know that you 654 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:12,520 Speaker 2: have this wonderful form that you're using for good, but 655 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,640 Speaker 2: which I'm very grateful, y'all. 656 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:16,360 Speaker 1: I have no end zone seven the way that I 657 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 1: always do with a quote. It's so easy to give 658 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:25,319 Speaker 1: in the juvenile justice system and so hard to get out. 659 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: Anonymous seventeen year old female. I'm Cheryl McCollum, and this 660 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 1: is Zone seven.