UJS Press Releases & News
View press releases from and news about the South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
Recent News From UJS
New Circuit Court Judge to be Sworn into Office in Sioux Falls
The Second Judicial Circuit will hold a swearing-in of Jeffrey C. Clapper as its newest circuit court judge.
Commission on Indigent Legal Services to Meet on October 16
The South Dakota Commission on Indigent Legal Services will meet virtually on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at 11 a.m. CDT.
South Dakota Unified Judicial System Issues FY2024 Annual Report
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System has issued its FY2024 Annual Report, which encompasses the work of the South Dakota Supreme Court, circuit courts, magistrate courts and the State Court Administrator’s Office between July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
Codington County Treatment Court to Hold Graduation on October 4, 2024
The Codington County Treatment Court team invites the public to join them in celebrating participants completing the program. A graduation ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, 10 a.m. CDT in Courtroom #222 at the Codington County Courthouse, 14 First Ave. SE, Watertown.
Near Record Number of South Dakotans to be Trained on Child Abuse Prevention 9.26.2024
With more than 500 South Dakotans attending, the 24th annual Community Response to Child Abuse Conference begins on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
State court leaders say reforms to public defense will take years, patience, engagement
Leaders within the state court system asked for patience on Wednesday as they pledged to address deficiencies in South Dakota’s system for delivering legal representation to people who can’t afford lawyers.
Chief justice: No legislation on indigent defense in 2025
Come January, there likely won’t be any new legislative requests from the South Dakota Supreme Court regarding people who lack sufficient financial resources to hire their own lawyers when accused of crimes.
Addressing South Dakota's public defense gaps
Thanks to a new judicial report, the challenges facing the state’s indigent defense system are coming more into focus. Now, the question is how to move forward.
State officials discuss state of indigent defense in South Dakota
State officials discuss state of indigent defense in South Dakota
Supreme Court to Hold October Term of Court at University of South Dakota
South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen invites the public to attend the Supreme Court’s October 2024 term of court on Oct. 1-2 at the University of South Dakota (USD) Knudson School of Law in Vermillion.