South Dakota Supreme Court
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The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. The main job of the court is to listen to appeals from the decisions rendered by lower courts in the state. The court also has authority over some original matters, and it can be called on to advise the state's governor regarding executive powers.
The South Dakota Supreme Court is also responsible for administering the South Dakota Unified Judicial System. This system was created in 1975 through an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution. The court is responsible for developing a budget for the entire state court system and for supervising the work of the state's circuit (trial) courts. The court also makes rules covering practices and procedures of the state's court system, how the courts are administered, the terms of court, bar admissions and attorney discipline questions.
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
The South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission administers the process of selecting justices to the court.[2]
To serve on the state's high court, a judge must be:
- A U.S. citizen
- A resident of South Dakota
- A voting resident within the judicial district which he or she will represent.
- Licensed to practice law in South Dakota.
- There is a mandatory retirement age of 70.
Current justices
| Name | Appointed/Elected | Term expires | Appointing Governor | Governor's Political affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice David Gilbertson | 1995 | 2014 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
| Glen A. Severson | 2009 | 2012 | Governor Mike Rounds | Republican |
| John Konenkamp | 1994 | 2014 | Governor Walter Dale Miller | Republican |
| Steven Zinter | 2002 | 2014 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
| Judith Meierhenry | 2002 | 2014 | Governor Bill Janklow | Republican |
Chief justice
The Justices select their own Chief Justice. Chief justices are elected to four-year renewable terms.
History of the court
A Territorial Supreme Court that covered the area that is now South Dakota and North Dakota was created in 1861. President Abraham Lincoln appointed its first three justices: Philemon Bliss, Joseph L. Williams, and George P. Willisfon. The court did not meet to dispose of any cases until 1867.
In 1889, the Dakota Territory was split into North Dakota and South Dakota. Its Territorial Supreme Court was 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.
Between 1861 and 1889, when South Dakota become a state, thirty presidential appointees served as judges of the Territorial Supreme Court. Their decisions, cited as "Dakota Reports", cover six volumes.[3]
External links
References
Navigation
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The South Dakota Project on Judgepedia
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