Hale was born on June 30, 1967[1] at the United States Army hospital at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He joined the law firm of Reed, Weitkamp, Schell & Vice, PLLC, in 1999, becoming a partner in 2002, serving until his appointment as United States attorney.

[4][5][6] On January 20, 2010, President Obama nominated Hale to serve as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, in place of David L. Huber who had resigned.

[6] On March 31, 2017, Hale ruled against the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of inciting violence against protesters in Louisville, Kentucky.

[12][13] Trump's attorneys moved for dismissal of the case, arguing he was protected by free speech laws, and wasn't trying to get his supporters to resort to violence.