SALT LAKE CITY — During what might otherwise be the appropriate time for sentencing, 3rd District Judge Teresa Welch presided over a graduation ceremony. Eight Marine and Army veterans were marking their completion of a program Thursday, that is aimed at helping them reform and put their lives back together, rather than focusing on punishment.
Each veteran, including Marine veteran Billy Hatch, addressed a room filled with family, friends, support staff and attorneys.
“Addiction has an ugly side,” Hatch said. “And at some point, I thought that this introduction to the court was somehow marring my military service.”…