Kathleen F. Trandahl

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Kathleen F. Trandahl

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Prior offices
South Dakota 6th Judicial Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

Augustana College, 1982

Law

University of South Dakota, 1985


Kathleen Felker Trandahl was a judge for the South Dakota Sixth Judicial Circuit.[1] Trandahl was appointed to the bench in March 1994 by Governor Walter Miller.[2] Trandahl was re-elected in 2014 for an eight-year term.[3] She retired from the court in October 2016.[4]

Biography

Trandahl received her bachelor's degree from Augustana College in 1982. She went on to earn her J.D. in 1985 from the University of South Dakota.[5] Prior to her appointment to the bench, Trandahl maintained a private law practice and served as deputy state's attorney for Tripp County. She also worked as a law clerk for the Third Judicial Circuit.[6]

Elections

2014

See also: South Dakota judicial elections, 2014
Trandahl ran for re-election to the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
General: She was unopposed in the general election on November 4, 2014. [3] 

Notable cases

In November 2009, Judge Trandahl heard and ruled on the legality of the proposed South Dakota Smoking Ban Referendum. The American Cancer Society had claimed that South Dakota’s expanded smoking-ban law couldn't be referred to a public vote, arguing that it would violate the state constitution because "it is necessary for the immediate preservation of public health." If the measure was approved for the ballot, the controversy regarding the number of valid submitted signatures would be discussed in court.[7]

In a ruling handed down by Trandahl, the organization was allowed to involve themselves in a lawsuit that determined whether the measure would appear on the November 2010 ballot.[8]

Judge Trandahl ruled that referendum supporters had 240 more signatures than the minimum signature requirement. The smoking ban referendum was on the 2010 statewide ballot. Attorney General Marty Jackley and Secretary of State Chris Nelson said the state would not appeal the court's decision.[9][10]

See also

External links

Footnotes