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LL.B., Howard University School of Law, 1959, withhonorsB.A., Florida A&M University, Political Science, 1954

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Florida

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Tallahassee

T: +1 850 224 9634

Joseph W. Hatchett

Co-Chair, Appellate Practice

joseph.hatchett@akerman.comvCard

Noted by the American Bar Association as a pioneer in Florida law as the firstblack person appointed to the Florida Supreme Court since Reconstruction,and the first black person ever elected to public office in a statewide electionin the South, Joseph Hatchett serves as co-chair of Akerman's AppellatePractice and chair emeritus of the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee.Immediately prior to joining Akerman, he served as Chief Judge of the UnitedStates Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Florida, Georgia, andAlabama). Previous to congressional creation of the Eleventh Circuit Court ofAppeals, President Jimmy Carter appointed Joseph to the United States Courtof Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, Georgia,and Alabama).

Appointed to the Florida Supreme Court in 1975 by Governor Reuben Askew,he continued to serve on that court after a successful statewide election in1976. Following a career as a civil rights lawyer in Florida, he served as ChiefAssistant United States Attorney and Conscientious Objector Hearing Officerfor the U.S. Department of Justice and as a full time U.S. Magistrate Judge, allin the Middle District of Florida.

Joseph served as the Chief Judge of the federal three-judge court that drewthe Florida legislative reapportionment plans in 1980 and in 1990. Afterleaving the bench in 1999, he led the team in both the state and federallitigation related to the legislative reapportionment of 2000. In 2005, givenhis experience in Florida, the federal three-judge court of Georgia appointedhim to aid the court in drawing the redistricting plans for the Georgia Houseand Senate.

In 2005, the National Bar Association inducted Joseph into its Hall of Fame inrecognition of more than 40 years of dedication to the cause of justice andequality before the Courts of the United States of America, and on behalf ofthe African-American community. The American Bar AssociationCommission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession awarded himthe Spirit of Excellence Award, which is presented annually to exceptionallawyers who have made significant contributions to the promotion of racialand ethnic diversity within the legal profession.

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1981-1999; ChiefUnited States Circuit Judge, 1996-1999

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States CircuitJudge, 1979-1981

Supreme Court of Florida, Justice, 1975-1979

United States Marine Corps Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel, 1973-1978;Retired, 1988

Related Professional Experience

Areas of Experience

Education

Admissions

Related Content

Middle District of Florida, United States Magistrate, 1971-1975

Middle District of Florida, First Assistant United States Attorney, 1968-1971

Conscientious Objectors, Department of Justice, Special Hearing Officer,1967-1968

Middle District of Florida, Assistant United States Attorney, 1966-1968

Daytona Beach Urban Renewal Department, Consultant, 1963-1966

Masons of Florida, General Counsel, 1963-1966

City Attorney, Daytona Beach, Special Assistant, 1963-1966

NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Cooperating Attorney, 1960-1966

United States Army, 1st Lieutenant, 1954-1956

United States Marine Corps Reserve, J.A.G. Corps, Retired

United States Marine Corps Reserve, Judge Advocate Division, MilitaryJudge, Retired

11th Circuit Historical News, Co-Author, "Tallahassee U.S. Courthouses: ALook Back in Time," Fall 2014

The Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association's Eighth AnnualSpirit of Giving Awards, Guest Speaker, December 2014

Judicial Nominating Commission, Florida Northern District, Member

International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors

The Florida Bar, Member

American Bar Association, Member

American Judicature Society, Member

Federal Magistrate Judges Committee, Member, 1984

Jacksonville Bar Association, Member

D.W. Perkins Bar Association, Member

Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules, Member

National Bar Association, Member

National Council of Federal Magistrates, Member

United Negro College Fund, Volusia County, Co-Chairman, 1962

Jacksonville Naval Reserve Training Corps, Committee Selection, Member,1971

Jacksonville Opportunities Industrialization Center, Board of Directors,1972-1975

Veterans of Foreign Wars

The Best Lawyers in America 2009-2018, Listed in Florida for AppellatePractice

Super Lawyers Magazine 2006-2018, Listed in Florida for BusinessLitigation

Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2010, Listed for Appellate Practice

ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, Spiritof Excellence Award, 2007

Inducted into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame, 2005

Anti-Defamation League, Jurisprudence Award, 2003

Leadership Florida, Leroy Collins "Lifetime Achievement Award", 2001

The Florida Bar Foundation, Medal of Honor, 2000

Howard University, Honorary LL.D., 1998

Florida A&M University, Honorary LL.D., 1996

Stetson Law School, Honorary LL.D., 1980

Florida Memorial College, Honorary LL.D., 1978

National Bar Association, 1977

Howard University, Post Graduate Achievement Award, 1977

Broward County National Bar Association, "Most Outstanding Citizen"

Published Work and Lectures

Affiliations

Honors and Distinctions

Award, 1976

Edward Waters College, Community Service Award, 1976

Florida A&M University, Bicentennial Award, 1976

Bethune Cookman, Medallion for Human Relations, 1975

Tampa Urban League, An Accolade for Juristic Distinction, 1975

Florida Jax Club, "Man of the Year" Award, 1974

Who's Who in America

Notable Americans

Who's Who Among Black Americans

Notable Black Americans

Who's Who in American Law

Who's Who in the South and Southwest

The American Bench