Judge Joseph W. Hatchett (Ret)

Hon. Joseph W. Hatchett served on the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 1981 to 1999, including as Chief Judge from 1996 -1999, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1979 to 1981, and on the Supreme Court of Florida from 1975 to 1979. He is a shareholder of the Akerman Senterfitt law firm and Chair of the Appellate Practice Group, based in Tallahassee. His areas of specialty include ADR, appeals and corporate advisory services. He has received many awards for public service and has published several articles on federal courts.

A graduate of Florida A & M University (B.A. 1954) and Howard University School of Law (L.L.B. 1959), Mr. Hatchett is also a retired Military Judge in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He is a member of the bar of the State of Florida.

 

Selected Opinions

The Florida Bar v. McCain, 361 So. 2d 700 (Fla. 1978) (Public official sanctions);

Morgan v. State of Florida, 337 So. 2d 951 (Fla. 1976) (First Amendment freedom of the press);

Adler v. Duval County School Board, 174 F.3d 1236 (11th Cir. 1999) (First Amendment, public school prayer);

Solomon v. Liberty County Commissioners, 166 F.3d 1135 (llth Cir. 1999) (Voting Rights Act and elections);

Loggerhead Turtle v. County Council of Volusia County, Fla., 148 F.3d 1231 (11th Cir. 1998) (Environment, endangered species);

U.S. v. Dallas County Commission, 850 F.2d 1430 (11th Cir. 1988) (Civil rights, voting).