Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments at University of South Dakota on October 8-9

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Sept. 26, 2025
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us or 605.773.2031

Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments at University of South Dakota on October 8-9

PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen invites the public to attend the Supreme Court’s October 2025 Term of Court on Oct. 8-9 at the University of South Dakota (USD) Knudson School of Law in Vermillion.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in four cases the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, and four cases the morning of Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Arguments will begin at 9 a.m. CDT and end at noon each day. The sessions will be held in the UJD Knudson School of Law Courtroom, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion. 

A booklet containing a schedule of the cases to be heard, a short synopsis of each case, biographical information on the Supreme Court justices and a short summary of appellate procedure is available online. 

The South Dakota Supreme Court travels throughout the state twice a year to hear oral arguments at USD and another public institution. 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. 

“Holding oral arguments at the Knudson School of Law allows us to share the work of the Supreme Court in a setting where future lawyers and community members can experience it directly,” said Chief Justice Jensen. “By bringing the Court to South Dakota’s only law school, we not only highlight the importance of legal education, but also demonstrate our commitment to openness, engagement and fostering a deeper public understanding of the judicial process.”

In addition to the cases scheduled for oral argument, there are several non-oral cases on the October Term of Court calendar that the Supreme Court will consider. Learn more about the South Dakota Supreme Court at https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court. 

—30—

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 at https://ujs.sd.gov.