Judge Hatchett vows 'hell will freeze over' before paying GSA fees

Judge Hatchett, Sheriff Taylor talk GSA legal battle

Judge Glenda Hatchett and Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor are speaking out regarding a legal battle following a former sheriff’s sexual battery conviction.

ATLANTA - Judge Glenda Hatchett says she will not pay court-ordered fees over a dropped lawsuit against the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, and Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor is backing her up.

Judge Hatchett assaulted

The backstory:

Judge Glenda Hatchett was groped at a 2022 Georgia Sheriffs' Association event in Cobb County. Former Bleckley County Sheriff Kris Coody pleaded guilty to sexual battery charges stemming from the incident.

"The truth is I was absolutely in shock. I’ve been introduced to this man as Judge Hatchett and how dare he?" Hatchett said. "He grabbed my breast and literally started squeezing on my breast and rubbing my breast."

After the sheriff pleaded guilty, Hatchett sued the GSA as part of a civil lawsuit over the incident, alleging negligence and liability on the part of the association. Hatchett later dropped that suit when it was moved from metro Atlanta to a Morgan County court.

"I didn’t know where Morgan County was, I had to look it up on the map," Hatchett said. "I didn’t want to spend the next 3-4 years of my life fighting this case in Morgan County. Not because I didn’t think I could win."

Judge Hatchett gets support from sheriff

What they're saying:

After she dropped the case, the GSA countersued for attorneys' fees and won. Now, Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor is supporting Hatchett, saying the order was bad for all sexual assault victims.

"I knew this was not a popular stance with the associations, with the other sheriffs possibly or whatever the case maybe but I knew it was the right thing for me to do. I have a daughter. I have granddaughters," Taylor said. "The colleagues that I have spoken about this, we’re all in agreeance and in solidarity behind her. I haven’t spoken to any of the sheriff’s that is supporting GSA."

Sheriff Taylor stated he isn't worried about the political fallout of his support. "I can’t be concerned about political suicide," he said.

Hatchett said she will not pay the fees despite the court order. "Hell will freeze over first before I pay them a dime as a matter of principle," Hatchett said. "It is wrong to then come and revictimize the person who has already been through this trauma."

Judge Hatchett case timeline

Timeline:

Here is how the case has played out so far: 

• Jan. 18, 2022: The incident occurred at a Georgia Sheriffs' Association event in Cobb County involving then-Sheriff Kris Coody.
• Aug. 21, 2023: Former Sheriff Kris Coody pleads guilty to sexual battery.
• Jan. 17, 2024: Hatchett files a civil case against the Georgia Sheriffs' Association but later dismisses it after the venue was moved to Morgan County.
• August 2025: Hatchett drops the suit and the GSA sues Hatchett to recover attorney's fees.
• March 23: Sheriff Keybo Taylor publicly posts his support for Hatchett on social media.

Since the assault four years ago, Hatchett said she's struggled immensely. "I pride myself on being a very strong woman, but this has been difficult," she said. "I couldn’t get out of bed. I was crying uncontrollably. I was a wreck. I was absolutely a wreck. I went immediately into therapy."

What we don't know:

GSA CEO Terry Norris declined to comment on the matter, citing pending legal matters.