United States Attorney Minkler celebrates International Women’s Month

Indianapolis-In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler honors the district’s first female AUSA: Sarah Evans Barker, Senior Judge, SDIN, who served the district as an AUSA from 1972-1976, as First Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1976-1977, and as United States Attorney from 1981-1984 before being nominated to the vacant seat on the U.S. District Court, SDIN. Judge Barker is a trailblazer extraordinaire and the ripples of her DOJ legacy and presence positively affect the daily work the office engages in even today. USA Minkler would also like to recognize the district’s most recently hired female AUSA, Amanda Kester, who is currently assigned to the district’s Drug and Violent Crime Unit. AUSA Kester began her tenure with DOJ on 10/15/18. Prior to, she served as a Morgan County Deputy Prosecutor where she specialized in technology prosecutions including crimes against children. USA Minkler is exceptionally proud of the district’s 17 female AUSAs, devoted support staff including female leadership, and two supervisory attorneys, Cynthia Ridgeway, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Shelese Woods, Civil Chief.

The United States Attorney also proudly recognizes the district’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Steering Committee: AUSAs Cindy Cho, Kelly Rota, Kate Olivier, Gina Shields, FBI Special Agent Victoria Madtson, and Sarah Dame, Clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. The WLI meets quarterly at the USAO to discuss issues central to professional development and civic responsibility.

Sarah Evans Barker  

Amanda Kester