S.D.: Specialty courts continue saving money and lives

KCCR News: "An option that helps some people avoid prison time and saves the state money appears to be making progress."

University of South Dakota renames law school after receiving $12.5M donation

National Jurist: "South Dakota’s only law school is getting a new name. The University of South Dakota will now be known as USD Knudson School of Law after the school received $12.5 million."

S.D. justices take company’s side in a dispute with state’s underground storage tanks program

KELO News: "A circuit judge in a financial case correctly ruled against state government’s program for cleaning up leaks from underground storage tanks, the South Dakota Supreme Court said."

SD legislators direct justices to take another look at parenting time

KELO News: "The South Dakota Supreme Court is considering whether to start a state commission on parenting-time guidelines."

Former South Dakota Attorney General Meierhenry dies

Sioux Falls Argus Leader: "Mark Meierhenry, a former South Dakota attorney general and the patriarch of an influential legal family, died early Wednesday. He was 75."

S.D.: Excellence in law and friendship

KELO News: "Two longtime figures in the South Dakota law community are receiving a prestigious honor. South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson and the late Justice Steven Zinter will both be the recipients of this year’s McKusick Award."

Jensen picked to lead South Dakota supremes

Pierre Capital Journal: "Upon the planned retirement of South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson in January, Justice Steven Jensen will take the role of leading the state's highest court, officials announced on Tuesday."

USD law school fell below bar-exam threshold

KELO News: "South Dakota’s only law school was one of 10 nationwide that didn’t meet a key standard, set by a council of the American Bar Association, that 75 percent of an institution’s law graduates pass a bar exam within two years."

S.D.: COVID-19 pandemic bogs down court system

Black Hills Pioneer: "Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the wheels of justice continue to turn in Lawrence County. They’re just going a bit slower than usual."

USD Law School among first to be back with face-to-face education this fall

KELO News: "The South Dakota Board of Regents has decided that universities will resume in-person classes at the start of the fall term."

Billionaires stashing funds in South Dakota trusts

Pierre Capital Journal: "South Dakota’s unusual stature as a leader nationwide in chartering trusts has been in the national headlines in recent weeks because of a new turn in a Texas billionaire’s messy divorce."

S.D.: Juvenile justice reform movement aided by detention decline during crisis

Public News Service: "A downward trend in juvenile-detention populations during the pandemic is renewing hopes among reform advocates. The numbers are reflected in a national survey that reached out to agencies in 30 states."

SD Supreme Court oral arguments via Zoom

Pierre Capital Journal: "Traditionally, the South Dakota Supreme Court holds oral arguments - open to the public - either at its courtroom in the State Capitol, at the University of South Dakota School of Law or another public institution like a college."

State panel begins steps in nominating a new justice for the South Dakota Supreme Court

KELO News: "State law requires that South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson must retire no later than January 5, 2021."

All 62 courthouses in South Dakota remain operational

KELO News: "While state, county, and city government offices across South Dakota have closed and moved to operating online or by phone, the court system in the state is still up and running."

S.D. courts delay trials, excuse no-shows, reduce jail population

Brookings Register: "South Dakota courts are delaying trials, excusing no-shows, attempting to reduce jail populations and taking other measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus."

Most fed. court business in S.D. delayed

News Center 1: "Coronavirus concerns are shutting down almost all federal court business in South Dakota."

SD courts delay trials, excuse no-shows, reduce jail population for coronavirus

Rapid City Journal: "South Dakota courts are delaying trials, excusing no-shows, attempting to reduce jail populations and taking other measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus."

USD law professor edits journal focused on agriculture policy

Yankton Press and Dakotan: "Thomas Horton, a professor of law and the Heidepriem Trial Advocacy Fellow at the University of South Dakota School of Law, served as guest editor of the winter issue of Competition Policy International’s journal Antitrust Chronicle."

S.D. Supreme Court gives judges authority to modify operations

U.S. News: "The South Dakota Supreme Court has issued an order declaring a judicial emergency because of the new coronavirus."

'It's been a good run': SD chief justice reflects on career

Mitchell Daily Republic: "David Gilbertson has been the South Dakota Supreme Court's chief justice for just shy of two decades, longer than anyone in the state's history. During that time, he told The Daily Republic in Pierre recently, nearly every major issue facing the state's judicial system has changed."

South Dakota courts want more $ to treat more, hire more officers and pay judges more

KELO News: "The state Unified Judicial System needs more than what the governor has requested to bring its budget into line with growing demands that already strain circuit courts, two South Dakota Supreme Court members told state lawmakers Wednesday."

S.D.: Daugaard reflects on career at forum

Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan: "He grew up near Dell Rapids, but former Gov. Dennis Daugaard said he learned so much more about South Dakota during his time in public office."