South Dakota Supreme Court elections
There are five justices on the South Dakota Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the South Dakota judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in South Dakota
The five justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court are appointed by the governor from a list of at least two names provided by the South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission.[1] The commission is made up of seven members: two circuit court judges, three lawyers, and two members of the public. The judges are elected by the judicial conference, the lawyers are chosen by the state bar association, and the members of the public are appointed by the governor.[2]
Newly appointed judges serve for at least three years, after which they must run in a yes-no retention election during a regularly scheduled general election. Subsequent terms last eight years.[3]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the court is chosen by peer vote and serves in that capacity for four years.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- a resident of South Dakota;
- a voting resident within his or her respective district;
- licensed to practice law in the state; and
- under the age of 70.*[3][4][5]
Vacancies
If a judge retires before the end of his or her term, a judicial nominating commission recommends candidates to the governor, and the governor selects a successor from that list. The new appointee serves for at least three years before running in a yes-no retention election.[3]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
2024
District 5
General election
General election for South Dakota Supreme Court District 5
Incumbent Scott P. Myren won election in the general election for South Dakota Supreme Court District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Scott P. Myren (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 279,216 |
| Total votes: 279,216 | |||
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2022
Candidates and results
Salter's seat
South Dakota Supreme Court District 2, Mark Salter's seat
Mark Salter was retained to the South Dakota Supreme Court District 2 on November 8, 2022 with 80.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
80.1
|
228,724 | ||
No |
19.9
|
56,676 | |||
Total Votes |
285,400 | ||||
|
|
DeVaney's seat
South Dakota Supreme Court District 3, Patricia DeVaney's seat
Patricia DeVaney was retained to the South Dakota Supreme Court District 3 on November 8, 2022 with 80.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
80.1
|
230,126 | ||
No |
19.9
|
57,052 | |||
Total Votes |
287,178 | ||||
|
|
2020
Candidates and results
Fourth District
South Dakota Supreme Court District 4
Steven Jensen was retained to the South Dakota Supreme Court District 4 on November 3, 2020 with 81.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
81.4
|
296,824 | ||
No |
18.6
|
67,717 | |||
Total Votes |
364,541 | ||||
|
|
2018
Candidates and results
Kern's seat
South Dakota Supreme Court District 1
Janine M. Kern was retained to the South Dakota Supreme Court District 1 on November 6, 2018 with 83.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
83.1
|
243,399 | ||
No |
16.9
|
49,543 | |||
Total Votes |
292,942 | ||||
|
|
2014
Retention
| Judge | Election Vote |
|---|---|
| Lori Wilbur | 82.2%  |
| Steven Zinter | 81.8% |
| David Gilbertson | 83.4% |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Judicial System," accessed April 15, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Unified Judicial System, "Judicial Qualifications Commission," accessed April 15, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: South Dakota," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Under the South Dakota code, a supreme court justice who turns seventy while in office must be "automatically retired on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January next after the general election at which members of the Legislature are elected."
- ↑ Justia US Law, "Section 16-1-4.1: Mandatory retirement of justices at age seventy—Conclusion of pending matters," accessed September 10, 2014
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of South Dakota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of South Dakota
State courts:
South Dakota Supreme Court • South Dakota Circuit Courts • South Dakota Magistrate Courts
State resources:
Courts in South Dakota • South Dakota judicial elections • Judicial selection in South Dakota
