Justice Patricia J. DeVaney

Justice Patricia J. DeVaney was appointed to the South Dakota Supreme Court by Gov. Kristi Noem and sworn in on May 23, 2019. She represents the Supreme Court Third District, which consists of Beadle, Bennett, Brookings, Brule, Buffalo, Fall River, Haakon, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jerauld, Jones, Kingsbury, Lake, Lyman, Mellette, Miner, Moody, Oglala Lakota, Sanborn, Stanley, Sully, Todd and Tripp counties. 

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 political science from the University of South Dakota in 1990 and her juris doctor 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 17 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 Gov. Dennis Daugaard as a circuit court judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 2012. She served as the second judge for the Sixth Circuit Drug & DUI 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.