Public Invited to Observe the Supreme Court at the University of South Dakota in October
South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen invites the public to attend the Supreme Court’s October 2026 Session on Oct. 7-8 at the University of South Dakota (USD) Knudson School of Law in Vermillion.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Sept. 23, 2026
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, via email or 605.773.2031
Public Invited to Observe the Supreme Court at the University of South Dakota in October
PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen invites the public to attend the Supreme Court’s October 2026 Session on Oct. 7-8 at the University of South Dakota (USD) Knudson School of Law in Vermillion.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, and four cases the morning of Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Arguments will begin at 9 a.m. CDT each morning. The sessions will be held in the UJD Knudson School of Law Courtroom, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion.
The Supreme Court travels throughout the state twice a year to hear arguments at public institutions. This gives the citizens of South Dakota the opportunity to see and hear for themselves how the Supreme Court operates. Area high school government classes are also invited to attend. Cases are selected to demonstrate the variety of legal arguments that face the court system.
“The traveling sessions bring the work of the Supreme Court closer to the people we serve,” said Chief Justice Jensen. “It provides an important opportunity for South Dakotans to see the judicial process firsthand, learn more about the role of the Court, and gain a greater understanding of how decisions are made.”
Information about attending the traveling October Session at the Knudson School of Law and the cases to be heard can be found on the Supreme Court’s Traveling Sessions web page.
In addition to the cases scheduled for argument during the October Session, there are several cases to be considered by the Court that are not on the argument calendar. Learn more about the South Dakota Supreme Court.
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About South Dakota Courts: The Unified Judicial System (UJS) consists of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts and State Court Administrator’s Office. The Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and final decision maker on South Dakota law. The Circuit Courts are the state’s trial courts where criminal proceedings and civil litigation are handled. The State Court Administrator’s Office provides centralized administrative assistance and support services for the South Dakota judiciary. Learn more about UJS.