South Dakota Supreme Court
From Judgepedia
| South Dakota Supreme Court |
|---|
|
| Sitting justices |
| Richard Sabers John Konenkamp David Gilbertson Steven Zinter Judith Meierhenry |
| Former justices |
| South Dakota on Judgepedia |
Contents |
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota.
Jurisdiction
The Court is also authorized to issue original or remedial writs and provide advice to the governor regarding the scope of executive powers, then six in 1884, and eight in 1888.[citation needed]
Case load
In 2008, 362 combined filings, compared with 403 combined filings in 2007.[1] The total pending cases as of June 30, 2008 was 159.
The court's justices
Selection of justices
The Supreme Court of South Dakota is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices appointed by the Governor and selected from five different appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment and every eight years after that. The Supreme Court of South Dakota serves as the final appellate court in the state, reviewing the decisions of state circuit courts.
Qualifications
For the application to become a South Dakota judge, click here. This must be submitted to the Judicial Qualifications Commission.[2]
Current justices
| Name | Appointed/Elected | Term expires | Appointing Governor | Governor's Political affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice David Gilbertson | 1995 | 2011 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
| Richard Sabers | 1986 | 2014 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
| John Konenkamp | 1994 | 2014 | Governor Walter Dale Miller | Republican |
| Steven Zinter | 2002 | 2010 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
| Judith Meierhenry | 2002 | 2010 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
Chief justice
The Justices select their own Chief Justice.
History of the court
In 1889, the Dakota Territory was split into North Dakota and South Dakota, and the Territorial Supreme Court was formally dissolved by President Benjamin Harrison. An election was held in South Dakota to select the first state supreme court. Justices Dighton Corson, Alphonso Kellam, and John Bennett were elected and sworn-in October 15, 1889. Since there was yet no capitol building for the new state, the oath-taking ceremony took place on the Hughes County courthouse veranda. The court used the county courthouse until 1891 when they began holding court in the state legislature's senate chambers. The South Dakota Supreme Court did not receive their own chambers until the autumn of 1905.
See also
- Judicial selection in South Dakota
- South Dakota judicial news
- South Dakota blogs
- South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission
External links
References
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