Philando Castile's Family Hires TV Judge Glenda Hatchett For Legal Counsel
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The family of Philando Castile has hired a famed television judge as legal counsel in all matters related to Castile's traffic stop death last week.
On Monday, it was announced that Judge Glenda Hatchett and The Hatchett Law Firm will represent Castile's family.
Castile was shot and killed by St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez in Falcon Heights on Wednesday, July 6. His girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, live-streamed the aftermath on Facebook, which went viral.
"I am deeply concerned about what seems to be an epidemic of African-American men being killed by police officers. We have often seemed demonstrations and debates and I raise the critical question, 'When will there be systemic reform?' Reform such that, citizens are not in fear of their lives when stopped and questioned by the police."
Hatchet is the host of the nationally-syndicated television show, "Judge Hatchet". She served 8 years as former Chief Judge of the Juvenile Court of Fulton County in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Valerie Castile and her family are very passionate and committed to ensuring that Philando's death is not just another statistic," says Hatchett. "She wants her son's death to mark a time in this country's history where reform becomes less about rhetoric and more about reality."
Hatchett and Castile's mother, Valerie, will be holding a joint press conference Tuesday morning at the Minnesota State Capitol. There, they will outline their expectations, announce Castile's funeral arrangements and respond to media questions.