This podcast with Joni Clark is an amazing story of “Self” reclamation. Joni lived in a religious cult for 13 years where her true self became buried, sharing “It’s sort of an abdication of your own responsibility to stay in charge of yourself. That’s the cult experience, but you can get that experience outside of being in a cult.” Hear how saying “no” fueled the courage to move forward with a high school education and four small daughters, ultimately becoming a Circuit Court Judge. Joni’s honesty about “The grip of what I saw for myself was different than the circumstances I found myself in – the fight was for myself” is pure inspiration for all!
Joni Clark is a judge for the Second Judicial Circuit in South Dakota. She was elected to that position in 2015 after serving as a Magistrate Judge. Prior she was an elected South Dakota State Representative for eight years and a State Senator for two where she led extensive public advocacy work in the areas of banking, trust, business, criminal justice and civil/criminal laws. Joni has been the only woman to Chair a SD House Judiciary Committee. Additionally she was Chair for the revision of the SD Criminal Code (only 2nd revision in SD history) and Co-Chair of the Legislature Executive Committee. During her tenure, she led significant national and international efforts with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as Chair of the Law and Justice Committee, and appointment to the Executive Committee.
Throughout Joni’s career she has been a champion for the advocacy issues of women and children. She served as the attorney for the SD Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault. Joni was a member of the national Uniform Law Commission on Human Trafficking and the US Commission on Civil Rights. Additionally she was the Divisional Dean of the Criminal Justice and Public Administration program at Colorado Technical University. Her experience includes extensive presentations, published articles and awards.
Joni graduated from Augustana College/University of Sioux Falls and the University of South Dakota School of Law. She has a National Judicial College General Jurisdiction Certificate and an Executive Education Certificate from the Kennedy School of Government. Joni is a mom and grandmother with four grown daughters.
