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South Dakota Supreme Court elections, 2020
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Steven Jensen was retained to the South Dakota Supreme Court District 4 on November 3, 2020 with 81.4% of the vote.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
South Dakota did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and results
Fourth District
General election candidates
- Steven Jensen (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
Past elections
2018
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 | ||||
|
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About the South Dakota Supreme Court
- See also: South Dakota Supreme Court
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. The main job of the court is to listen to appeals from the decisions rendered by lower courts in the state. The court also has authority over some original matters, and it can be called on to advise the state's governor regarding executive powers. The court is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by the governor and selected from five different appointment districts.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election. Justices on 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.
| ■ Patricia DeVaney | Appointed by Gov. Kristi Noem (R) in 2019 | |
| ■ David Gilbertson | Appointed by Gov. Bill Janklow (R) in 1995; retained in 1998, 2006, and 2014 | |
| ■ Steven Jensen | Appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) in 2017 | |
| ■ Janine M. Kern | Appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) in 2014 | |
| ■ Mark Salter | Appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) in 2018 |
Selection
- See also: Assisted appointment
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. Newly appointed justices 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. If a justice retires before the end of his or her term, a replacement is sought by the same method normally used to select justices.[1]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a justice 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.[1]
Selection of the chief justice
The chief justice of the court is chosen by peer vote and serves in that capacity for four years.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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
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