Unified Judicial System

Welcome to the Fourth Judicial Circuit
Located in the Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota

The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court is served by four circuit court judges, one magistrate judge, and court clerk magistrates in each county in the circuit. Assisting the presiding judge is an appointed circuit court administrator and a chief court services officer.

Hon. Warren G. Johnson, Presiding Judge 78 Sherman Street P. O. Box 626 Deadwood, SD 57732-0626
Hon. Randall L. Macy Circuit Court Judge 78 Sherman Street P. O. Box 626 Deadwood, SD 57732-0626	Hon. John W. Bastian Circuit Court Judge 839 Fifth Avenue P. O. Box 250 Belle Fourche, SD 57717-0250
Hon. Jerome A. Eckrich Circuit Court Judge 1425 Sherman Street P. O. Box 939 Sturgis, SD 57785-0939	Hon. Michelle K. Percy Magistrate Judge 78 Sherman Street P.O. Box 626 Deadwood, SD 57732-0626

Bernie Lungren Circuit Court Administrator 78 Sherman Street P. O. Box 626 Deadwood, SD 57732-0626	Derrick Nedved Chief Court Services Officer 78 Sherman Street P. O. Box 494 Deadwood, SD 57732-0494

The eight counties in north-western South Dakota within the Fourth Judicial Circuit are: Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach serving a population of 73,254 and covering a total of 19,063 miles.

1 – Butte County – pop. 9,212
2 – Corson County – pop. 4,288
3 – Dewey County – pop. 6,133
4 – Harding County – pop. 1,288
5 – Lawrence County – pop. 21,880
6 – Meade County – pop. 24,715
7 – Perkins County – pop. 3,187
8 – Ziebach County – pop. 2,551

Map of South Dakota with the 4th Circuit area of the state highlighted in blue.

In FY2005 [July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005], the Fourth Judicial Circuit processed…..

· Criminal files: 3,043 felony and class one misdemeanor cases with another 9,382 class two misdemeanors and petty offense filings

· Civil files: 2,956, including divorce, protection orders, adoptions, probate and other civil cases.

· Juvenile matters: 521 dependency and delinquency cases

· Small claims: 1,744

· Records searches: 5,237, for employment backgrounds, criminal histories, genealogy, and other inquiries

Child support receipts: 997 (those receipts not processed through
Child Support Enforcement)

Other statistics in FY2005 [July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005] include…..

· Collected $3.5 million in fines, fees, deposits and other costs, including $350,000 collected in the month of August alone due to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

· Disbursed $2.5 million to the State, counties, victims and other recipients

· Held 25 jury trials of all types

· Employed 40 people, including judges, court clerk magistrates, court services (probation) staff, court reporters, court administration staff, bailiffs and a law clerk

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