He studied at the public and private schools of Houston and at Bethel Military Academy.

[1] Hutcheson was nominated by President Herbert Hoover on December 20, 1930, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to a new seat authorized by 46 Stat.

He served as Chief Judge and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1948 to 1959.

[1] He was the last appeals court judge who continued to serve in active service appointed by President Hoover.

[3] Hutcheson was also a member of the Anglo-American Committee on Displaced Persons that recommended in 1946 that Britain greatly increase the number of Jewish refugees it would let into Palestine.