2022 will bring some history to Clarkstown as it swears in its very first female elected judge.

Leslie Kahn spent her career as an attorney working in the courts as a prosecutor with a lifelong goal of one day becoming a judge.

"I've spent my entire career in the courtroom and always admired the many judges I appeared before, and it's always been a dream of mine," she says.

But she never imagined she'd be the first female ever elected to do so in Clarkstown.

"I'm surprised it's taken this long for a woman to be elected. We have many talented and smart women attorneys in Clarkstown, so I'm surprised it has taken this long," she says.

Kahn campaigned to voters about her experience. She worked in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office for 25 years and has been the town attorney in Clarkstown the last 5 1/2 years.

"I think they elected a qualified female and I'm excited to take the bench. I'm proud of everything I've done and excited for a new chapter in my career," she says.