Hundreds of Livingston County residents packed a local ballroom Feb. 29 to pay tribute to a local leader – a Democrat.
Judge Michael P. Hatty, chief judge of Livingston County’s 44th Circuit Court, is retiring from the bench as he nears age 70; lawyers, local politicians, friends, family, court employees, and more turned out to honor him.
There were the expected jokes about his well-worn Colombo-esque trench coat, the “Brighton mafia” lawyer group he shared office space with as a young lawyer, his messy office, and his old car.
Speakers showered him with the usual adjectives that excellent judges earn – fair, impartial, ethical, and more.
But the adjective that stood out to me was “kind.” He was kind to everyone, one speaker said, even those to whom it was hard to be kind.
He especially was kind to those who came before him in Livingston County’s adult drug court. Judge Hatty has presided over the drug court since 2010 and in that time, 436 people have graduated from the drug court program.
The court targets offenders with substance abuse problems, but it offers intensive attention rather than just punishment. Participants stay in the program an average of 15 months during which time they are supervised, undergo regular drug testing, receive treatment and counseling, and more. It is one of several specialty courts in Livingston County, including a juvenile drug treatment court, a mental health court, and a veterans’ treatment court.
When he presided over drug court, Judge Hatty would ask the offender before him, “Tell me something good.” They would tell him something about how their journey to sobriety was going, achievements big and little. As one participant said, “I was involved in a car accident and it wasn’t my fault!” When you are at rock bottom, progress takes many forms.
Speakers said participants have told them that Judge Hatty saved their lives through drug court.
One woman who attended the dinner approached a speaker before the program and said, “My son is alive today because of Judge Hatty.”
What an incredible tribute!
Thank you, Judge Hatty, for taking the time to care about people it would be so easy to just lock up.
