Are the Judge's decisions binding?
Yes. Judge Hatchett is established as an arbitrator in the State of New York and her judgments are binding according to the laws of New York. She was the Chief Presiding Judge of Atlanta's Fulton County Juvenile Court System for nearly nine years. Although not currently on the bench in Atlanta, she has maintained a judicial appointment.

How did the producers find cases?
Many cases, particularly those involving family issues, come from calls to the toll-free number posted on-air during the show. Cases are also pulled from small claims courts across the country and sometimes come to the series as referrals from social service agencies. Cases being considered for air undergo a careful screening process that examines the participants' history (including criminal and psychological profiles) and background.

Who is the bailiff on the show? Is he really an officer?
Show bailiff Tom O'Riordan has been a Court Officer for the City of New York for six years. After graduating from the New York State Court Officer's Academy in October of 1994, he started at Brooklyn Family Court and later moved to the Manhattan Family Court, where he currently works. In June 2000, he answered an ad posted by producers of Judge Hatchett, which called for a real-life court officer to carry out similar duties on the series. According to O'Riordan, his colleagues at Family Court have been very supportive of his television work. “They always ask me what happened on the show, but I tell them they'll have to tune in to find out!”

How does Judge Hatchett come up with such creative sentences, including interventions?
Judge Hatchett draws from her years of experiences as a jurist and advocate for families and children. She believes strongly in practical approaches to issue resolution and incorporates this philosophy in her rulings. In helping to develop the series, Judge Hatchett suggested the creation of a legal department whose primary responsibility would be to protect the interest of litigants appearing before her. Judge Hatchett recommended attorney Trenny Stovall to head this department based on her years of advocating before Judge Hatchett in her Atlanta courtroom. The series' legal team constantly reaches out to community organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 100 Black Men, Inner Strength, Inc. and others across the country to help implement Judge Hatchett's interventions. The legal team works with the caseworkers to make recommendations for the disposition of cases. This requires that the Judge's inquiries, concerns and inclinations are anticipated - a process that Stovall has fine-tuned over many years of working with Judge Hatchett. The national network of intervention resources and service providers that the legal team has created provides the show with realistic resolution options. In addition, the legal team arranges treatment or counseling and monitors the litigants' progress after they leave the show.