Lila Statom on the bench
A tough-talking Chattanooga judge was featured on Fox News on Wednesday morning after a video of her blessing out a gang member went viral.
General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom was asked how she feels about being called "the Southern Judge Judy."
She called it "sort of comical," and acknowledged that she has a pronounced Southern accent.
Judge Statom noted that the gang member was not from the East Lake Projects, which he called "my hood."
She said both her grandparents lived in East Lake and she spent a lot of time there - up until she was around 10 years old.
Judge Statom said she gets out the message that people "can't rely on others to support them."
She said, for women especially, it is important for women to get a good education to help them get out of abusive situations.
She will be on Good Morning America on Thursday between 7 and 8 a.m.
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