The sheriffs explicitly argue that the GSA’s pursuit of fees undermines the very ethical foundation of their profession.
A formidable contingent of eleven Georgia sheriffs has issued a public condemnation of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association (GSA) for its controversial decision to pursue attorney’s fees from the Honorable Judge Glenda Hatchett, a documented survivor of sexual battery.
“We are writing to express our deep concern and moral opposition to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association’s recent legal action seeking damages and attorney’s fees from Judge Glenda Hatchett—a survivor of a documented and adjudicated incident of sexual battery,” a spokesperson shared with Black Enterprise.
The signing sheriffs are characterizing the sheer audacity of the GSA’s claim against a victim as an unconscionable abuse of legal process. To weaponize the court system against a person who has already endured physical violence and legal proceedings for that violence represents a profound ethical lapse.
The action goes beyond just legal posturing; it signals a devastating lack of empathy and prioritizes institutional defense over human dignity. It is an extraordinary demand for financial sacrifice from someone whose suffering has already been acknowledged by the criminal justice system.
The signatories assert that the GSA’s decision risks retraumatizing a victim whose assailant has already been convicted, while also sending a chilling message to other survivors considering coming forward, especially in cases involving high-ranking officials.
“Just because you can… doesn’t mean you should,” the sheriffs collectively wrote, using an old adage to rebuke the association’s legal prerogative. “This course of action sends a chilling message to survivors of sexual violence in Georgia and beyond.”
The sheriffs explicitly argue that the GSA’s pursuit of fees—which are typically awarded in cases entirely deemed without merit—undermines the very ethical foundation of their profession.
“Seeking attorney’s fees from a victim of sexual assault—particularly in a case where the offender was one of the highest-ranking law enforcement officers of the state—undermines the moral compass our organization purports to uphold: justice, accountability, and support for the vulnerable.”
Coody, who was sentenced to probation and community service, drunkenly groped Judge Hatchett’s breast during a GSA conference, an incident corroborated by the testimony of a former DeKalb County sheriff who physically intervened.
The eleven sheriffs, including Patrick Labat (Fulton County), Craig Owens (Cobb County), and Melody Maddox (DeKalb County), affirmed their commitment to restoring public confidence and upholding the dignity of survivors. They concluded their letter with an unreserved demand for a prompt reversal.
“We urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to immediately withdraw your claim for attorney’s fees and to issue a public reaffirmation of your support for victims of sexual violence. This is not simply a legal matter—it is a moral one.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
