NCJ Number
226112
Date Published
November 2008
Length
62 pages
Annotation
This annual report on South Dakota Courts for fiscal year 2008 presents information and statistics on the structure of the State’s court system, its personnel, and operations.
Abstract
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System is composed of two levels of courts that have interrelated jurisdictions. The Supreme Court, in addition to its own areas of original jurisdiction, provides administrative leadership for the legal and judicial system and serves as the State’s appellate court. The circuit courts are the lower courts of original jurisdiction through which the bulk of criminal proceedings and civil litigation is processed. The circuit courts use magistrate judges to assist in processing misdemeanor cases and less serious civil actions. This report provides information on the appointment and membership for the Supreme Court, and Supreme Court caseload information is compared by fiscal year. Information and data for the circuit courts cover the magistrate court, presiding judges’ meetings, the Judicial Conference, the Judicial Qualification Commission, and bench personnel by judicial circuit. Information on judicial staffing encompasses Supreme Court judicial staff, the Office of the State Court Administrator, and circuit judicial staff. A separate section of the report presents data on courts’ finances, receipts, and disbursements. Other sections present statistical tables and charts on civil caseload, criminal caseload, and court service caseload. 1 map, 21 tables and 22 charts