This weeks special guest is Kathy Caldwell! She has an impressive background as a previous presiding judge on the South Dakota second judicial court. Kathy’s story is one of strategy, determination, and relentless efforts in achieving her goals of becoming a lawyer & Judge to change the system from within.

Her journey towards becoming a lawyer/Judge included serving in the Peace Corps and traveling to Ethiopia. Along the way, Kathy encountered a rare and dangerous experience of being bitten by a green mamba snake, but miraculously survived the snake bite.

Despite facing obstacles, Kathy was determined to make a difference in the world to become one of the first female judges. She defied expectations that judges had to be men and Republicans, two things she was not. This did not deter her from pursuing her dreams.

Among her many accomplishments, Kathy became the second woman to sit on the Supreme Court. One of her most significant contributions was approving the program “Drug Court,” which aimed to provide treatment to substance-abusing offenders while minimizing the use of incarceration.

Kathy serves as a role model to many women and exemplifies the belief that anything is achievable with hard work. Her episode on the Overstepping Poverty Podcast is truly remarkable and not to be missed.