Justice Patricia J. DeVaney

Justice DeVaney was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Kristi Noem to represent the Third Supreme Court District. She was sworn in on May 23, 2019. Justice DeVaney was born and raised in Hand County and graduated from Polo High School in 1986. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 from the University of South Dakota, majoring in political science, and received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1993. Justice DeVaney began her career of public service as an Assistant Attorney General in the South Dakota Office of Attorney General, where she practiced law from 1993 to 2012. She began her practice in the appellate division, then moved to the litigation division where she spent seventeen years as a trial lawyer, prosecuting major felony offenses as well as representing the State in civil litigation in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. During her tenure at the Attorney General’s Office, she also handled administrative matters for state agencies and professional licensing boards. Justice DeVaney was appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard as a Circuit Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 2012, where she presided over criminal, civil and juvenile proceedings, heard administrative appeals, and assisted as the second judge for the Sixth Circuit DUI/Drug Court. Justice DeVaney has served as the Secretary-Treasurer and President of the South Dakota Judges Association. She has also co-chaired the South Dakota Supreme Court’s Commission on Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession and serves as Vice-Chair of the Supreme Court’s Courthouse Security Committee. Justice DeVaney and her husband, Fred, have three children.