Honorable Sheila Calloway on Supporting Children in the Courts
Judge Sheila Calloway graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she earned both her undergraduate and law degrees. After law school, she served as a public defender in Nashville until 2004, when she transitioned into the role of Juvenile Court Magistrate. In 2014, she successfully ran for Nashville’s Juvenile Court Judge and was re-elected for another eight-year term in 2022. Hearing approximately 1,000 juvenile cases annually, Judge Calloway is also a strong advocate for recognizing secondary trauma and supporting her staff through the intense demands of their work. In this episode, Spencer, Carli, and Judge Sheila discuss factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency, family dynamics, and strategies for preventing misconduct.
About The Honorable Sheila Calloway
Honorable Sheila Calloway serves as a Judge in the Juvenile Court of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. Originally from Louisville, KY, she moved to Nashville in 1987 to study at Vanderbilt University, where she earned both her Bachelor’s in Communications and later her law degree.
Judge Calloway began her legal career at the Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office before being appointed Juvenile Court Magistrate in 2004. She won the election for Juvenile Court Judge in 2014 and was re-elected for another eight-year term in 2022. She also teaches Trial Advocacy at Vanderbilt Law School and Juvenile Law at Belmont College of Law. Known for her unique blend of humor and judicial wisdom, she continues to make a significant impact on her community.
As a TedxNashville featured speaker, she delivered a talk titled “Can Forgiveness Transform the Criminal Justice System?” highlighting her belief in the power of forgiveness to effect change in the legal system.
