Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism
Manage episode 478340749 series 3477439
Judge Kim Taylor shares her journey as a pioneering female judge and mother of a son with autism, revealing how personal experience fueled her advocacy for autism awareness in the criminal justice system.
Her work began after learning about Sidney Templeton, a young man with autism who died in police custody due to officers' lack of understanding about his condition.
• First woman elected as district court judge in Alexander-Iredell-Davie County in 1986
• Created a task force that made autism training mandatory for North Carolina law enforcement
• Developed educational resources including "Autism in the Criminal Justice System" video
• Expanded advocacy through "Safe and Sound" committee with the Autism Society of America
• Advocating for national legislation for more uniform autism training across jurisdictions
• Emphasizes prevention and diversion programs over incarceration for those with autism
• Identifies the need for compassion and understanding in the legal system
• Won her initial election by just 75 votes across four counties
• Highlights how perspective changes when issues affect someone personally
Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me: The World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.
https://tonymantor.com
https://Facebook.com/tonymantor
https://instagram.com/tonymantor
https://twitter.com/tonymantor
https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic
intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild
Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Chapters
1. Introduction to Judge Kim Taylor (00:00:00)
2. Personal Journey with Autism (00:01:39)
3. The Sidney Templeton Tragedy (00:03:16)
4. Creating Law Enforcement Training Programs (00:04:34)
5. Advocating Through Safe and Sound (00:06:28)
6. Need for National Autism Legislation (00:09:38)
7. Changing Judicial Perspectives on Autism (00:13:23)
8. Compassion in the Legal System (00:16:38)
9. Becoming the First Female Judge (00:21:35)
123 episodes