S.D.: Ex-convict finds redemption after becoming mayor

U.S. News: " It's no secret that Francis 'Butch' Oseby has a history. But as the newly elected mayor of this town of 1,300 located just north of Sioux Falls, the 70-year-old wants to focus on the future."

Drug Court - treating the addiction for 30 years

Huron Plainsman: "In 1989, in an effort to fight a rising tide of drug arrests, the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida took a bold step toward both curbing drug abuse and addressing the overcrowding of prisons by incorporating treatment within the structure of its court system."

Judge curbs South Dakota political contribution law

Courthouse News Service: "A federal judge found unconstitutional Thursday a ballot measure passed by South Dakota voters last year that bans out-of-state contributions to ballot question committees."

S.D.: Federal judge garners piece of state history

Moody County Enterprise: "Flandreau native Karen Schreier has the distinction of being the first female judge appointed by a president to serve in South Dakota. After nearly 20 years working in that spot as a U.S. District Judge for the District of South Dakota, she retains the distinction of being the only one."

SD Supreme Court takes up case lawyer says could be 'absolute destruction' of tribal sovereign immunity

Rapid City Journal: "A former school principal is alleging he was wrongfully terminated from his job in a South Dakota Supreme Court case that one lawyer said could be an 'absolute destruction' of tribal nations' sovereign immunity."

Company must pay housing taxes on property leased from US government, South Dakota justices rule

KELO News: "The private corporation that manages a housing development for personnel at Ellsworth Air Force Base owed property taxes to Meade County starting in 2011, even though the U.S. government wasn't taxed on the 838 units during the previous 20 years before the company took control of the lease, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a decision released Thursday."

SD Supreme Court to decide country musician, others' liability for unpaid debts to investors

Dickinson Press: "In the latest development of a Chinese investing group's court battle for repayment, the South Dakota Supreme Court is set to decide whether individual loan guarantors -- including country musician Kenneth 'Big Kenny' Alphin -- are personally liable for over $32.5 million in unpaid loans."

S.D.: Supreme Court nixes transfer of child abuse case to tribe

U.S. News: "The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled a judge erred when he transferred a child abuse and neglect case from state court to tribal court. The high court says the judge should have considered testimony from the child's doctor in making the transfer."

SD Supreme Court upholds hog barn insurance case decision

Mitchell Daily Republic: "The South Dakota Supreme Court issued an opinion last week upholding a Douglas County court's decision not to require an insurance company to pay to represent a man in a separate case involving a hog barn."

SD Supreme Court says insurance provider must pay in death of Rapid City moped driver

KELO News: "The South Dakota Supreme Court has issued a decision in the death of a moped driver that could affect state laws on underinsured motorists coverage."

South Dakota justices rule against woman suing over traffic crash

KELO News: "A woman failed to meet the time limit set in state law for changing the target of her personal-injury lawsuit that resulted from a 2013 traffic crash, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a decision publicly released Thursday."

New justice appointed to South Dakota Supreme Court

KELO News: "South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has appointed a new Supreme Court Justice. The appointment of Patricia Jean DeVaney fills the open vacancy in the 3rd Supreme Court District from the death of Justice Steven Zinter."

S.D.: Incoming law school dean excited for position, engaging with students

USD Volante: "Neil Fulton, a Miller, S.D. native, was named as the USD School of Law Dean last month. Fulton will start his position in June. Fulton is a federal public defender, South Dakota Bar Examiner and former Chief of Staff to then Gov. Michael Rounds."

South Dakota's 2018 crime statistics released

KSFY News: "The State of South Dakota has released its annual crime report. The report shows a 28 percent decrease in sex offenses and a 32 percent decrease in thefts compared to 2017. The state has still seen an overall increase of 49 percent in drug offenses over the past six years."

South Dakota Supreme Court says man convicted of murder doesn't need new jury trial

Sioux Falls Argus Leader: "A Sioux Falls man appealing multiple aspects of his 2016 jury trial that landed him a second-degree murder conviction and life in prison won't be getting a new trial, the South Dakota Supreme Court said this week."

USD law school's new dean talks traditions, future

KELO News: "It's the only law school in South Dakota, and now it has a new leader. The University of South Dakota Law School has named Neil Fulton as the new dean. Fulton is a Yale graduate and studied law at the University of Minnesota. He says his long history in South Dakota positions him to help build future leaders in the state. "

Convicted murderer to get new trial in South Dakota

Mitchell Daily Republic: "In an opinion released Friday, March 15, the South Dakota Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Watertown defense attorney Scott Bratland’s contention that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to properly instruct a Grant County jury on what charge Bratland’s client, Michael Swan, should have faced."

South Dakota Supreme Court rules against rapist imprisoned In Iowa

KELO News: "he South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the 40-year sentence in the state penitentiary for a rapist who was already doing 30 years in Iowa. Shaylan Yeager had challenged the longer South Dakota sentence, claiming it was excessive and the judge abused his discretion."

S.D.: Presumptive probation remains controversial six years after passage

Mitchell Daily Republic: "Presumptive probation was one of many changes made to the state's criminal justice system as part of Senate Bill 70, also known as the Public Safety Improvement Act, which was passed in 2013."

SD high court rules against Rapid City woman in same-sex benefits case

Rapid City Journal/AP: "South Dakota's Supreme Court ruled this week against a retired police official seeking state retirement system survivor benefits after her wife, a former police captain, died of cancer."

S.D.: Lawyers giving free legal advice to veterans this week

KSFY News: "The State Bar of South Dakota and the USD School of Law are teaming up this week to host a two-day legal clinic for veterans. The event will be held at the American Legion in Watertown on Thursday and at the Sioux Falls Disabled American Veterans on Friday."

U.S.: Supreme Court sets date in Argus Leader case

Sioux Falls Argus Leader: "The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date to hear a case that could determine whether taxpayer payments to businesses can be considered confidential information."