Courtroom dedicated to Honorable Woodrow W. Hatcher

In a ceremony filled with admiration, storytelling, and heartfelt gratitude, the misdemeanor courtroom at the Jackson County Courthouse was officially dedicated Friday morning to retired County Judge Woodrow W. Hatcher, whose decades of service and groundbreaking legacy continue to shape Florida’s legal landscape.

The Honorable Woodrow W. Hatcher Courtroom was named in honor of the longtime Jackson County judge during a formal event held at 11 a.m. on April 11. The courtroom, located inside the courthouse at 4445 Lafayette Street, now bears the name of a man who not only upheld the law but modernized it, humanized it, and left an indelible mark on the judicial system across Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit and beyond.

Judge Hatcher began his judicial career in 1977 as a nonattorney judge — a position once permitted in Florida — and quickly gained the respect of his peers through unmatched commitment and intellect. When the state legislature later required judges to be licensed attorneys, Hatcher was one of 34 non-lawyer judges grandfathered in under the condition that they complete intensive legal education. Over two years, Hatcher balanced his judicial duties while completing fulltime legal coursework at the University of Florida.

His perseverance was emblematic of his career. “Judge Hatcher went to more school in two years than most of us did in law school,” said Judge Wade Mercer.

Hatcher was re-elected multiple times — often unopposed — and remained on the bench until 2013. He was the last nonattorney judge serving in Florida before the role was officially phased out.

 Judge Hatcher was widely regarded as an innovator. In the 1990s, he became the first judge in Florida to use audiovisual technology in court, allowing remote appearances for arraignments, first appearances, and non-jury trials — a concept that is commonplace today but groundbreaking at the time.

“He was ten steps ahead of everyone,” said Circuit Judge Ana Maria Garcia, who described Hatcher as both a mentor and a visionary. “He ran his courtroom with innovation, fairness, and deep compassion for the people who came before him.”

Hatcher also held the position of administrative judge for five counties in the 14th Judicial Circuit for over 20 years, and served as the legislative chair for the Conference of County Judges for 26 years — roles that required deft political skill, tireless advocacy, and what one speaker called “personal magnetism.”

In 1998, the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency recognized him as the state’s most outstanding judge, awarding him for distinguished service to the judiciary and the citizens of Florida.

The courtroom dedication ceremony drew a packed house of judges, attorneys, public officials, and community members. Among those delivering remarks were retired Judge Colie Nichols, Public Defender Mark Sims, Judge Wade Mercer, and Circuit Judge Ana Garcia — all of whom spoke to Hatcher’s wisdom, humility, and influence.

Sims recalled Hatcher not only as a legal mind but as a father figure, mentor, and humorist who made courtroom work both meaningful and human. “He taught us that the courtroom was the last bastion of civilization,” Sims said. “He made people act right when they were in his courtroom.”

Many of the speakers echoed the same theme: Hatcher’s legacy is not simply in the rulings he made but in the people he influenced.

“Judge Hatcher made me a better lawyer, and more importantly, a better judge,” Garcia said. In his own brief but emotional remarks, Judge Hatcher deflected praise and instead recognized those who helped him serve. He highlighted court clerks, probation officers, and judicial assistants — including Betty Spooner, who served as his assistant for 36 years.

He also acknowledged his wife, Linda, and children Chuck and Robin, along with the many family members and colleagues who supported him during his career.

“I was elected with no experience, only a vision,” Hatcher said. “But I had a team behind me. This courtroom doesn’t bear my name because of me. It’s because of them.”

The courtroom dedication, which mirrored an investiture ceremony, was described as the first of its kind in the 14th Judicial Circuit. It served not only as a public honor but also a symbolic gesture of respect for one of Florida’s longest-serving and most impactful judges.

 “From Greenwood High School to the Supreme Court’s legislative halls, Judge Hatcher’s journey has been remarkable,” said Chief Judge Patterson. “This courtroom has always been his — today just makes it official.”

 The ceremony concluded with applause, laughter, and a reception in honor of a man whose legacy now quite literally surrounds the community he served for more than 36 years.