UJS Press Releases & News
View press releases from and news about the South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
Recent News From UJS
Supreme Court Appoints Study Committee on the Bar Admissions Process
The South Dakota Supreme Court has entered an order appointing a diverse group of South Dakota attorneys to study the process for admitting attorneys to practice law in South Dakota.
South Dakota Supreme Court October Term of Court to be Held at the University of South Dakota
Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen of the South Dakota Supreme Court has announced that the Supreme Court will hold its October 2022 Term of Court at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law.
Committee on Judicial Elections Issues Opinion on Campaign Conduct on Sept. 26, 2022
The Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention has issued formal opinion 22-02 addressing judicial election campaign conduct of a candidate’s family member.
Parenting Education Class FAQs Issued
Effective Sept. 1, 2022, Supreme Court Rule 22-09 requires that the parties to any action involving issues of child custody or parenting time are required to complete a court-approved course to educate the parents on the impact these proceedings can have on the involved children.
Committee on Judicial Elections Issues Opinion on Campaign Conduct on Aug. 12, 2022
The Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention has issued formal opinion 22-01 addressing judicial election campaign conduct concerning a judicial candidate’s knowledge of who contributed to their campaign and the amount.
Supreme Court Rescinds Declaration of Judicial Emergency Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Effective June 30, 2022
The Supreme Court of South Dakota entered an ordering declaring a statewide judicial emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13, 2020. The order rescinding the judicial emergency becomes effective June 30, 2022.
South Dakota Supreme Court April Term of Court to be Held at South Dakota Mines
Chief Justice Steven Jensen of the South Dakota Supreme Court has announced that the Supreme Court will hold its April 2022 Term of Court in the Surbeck Center at South Dakota Mines.
Former Supreme Court Justice Richard W. Sabers Has Passed Away
Former Supreme Court Justice Richard W. Sabers passed away on January 12, 2022. The Supreme Court and Unified Judicial System staff mourn the loss of such a fine person and jurist.
Chief Justice to Deliver 2022 State of the Judiciary Message to the Legislature
Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen of the South Dakota Supreme Court will deliver his State of the Judiciary Message to a joint session of the Legislature on January 12, 2022, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Committee on 2022 Judicial Elections Appointed
The South Dakota Constitution requires South Dakota circuit court judges be elected in a nonpartisan election for an eight-year term of office. In the November 2022 general election, all current serving circuit court judges in South Dakota, along with any open position(s), will stand for election.