South Dakota Chief Justice Steven Jensen gestures as he participates in oral arguments with other state Supreme Court justices on March 23, 2023, in Brookings. Also pictured, from left, are Justices Scott Myren, Patricia DeVaney, Janine Kern and former Justice David Gilbertson. (David Bordewyk/South Dakota Newspaper Association)
PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – South Dakota’s Supreme Court justices have selected Steven R. Jensen to serve a second term as chief justice of the state’s highest court.
Jensen was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2017 and was initially selected as chief justice by the members of the court in 2021. He will begin his second, four-year term as chief justice on Monday.
In a press release, Jensen said he is “deeply honored.”
“Over the past four years, we have worked to ensure that our courts remain fair, accessible and responsive to the needs of all South Dakotans,” he said. “I look forward to continuing this important work as we strive to uphold the rule of law and strengthen public trust in our judiciary.”
The chief justice is the administrative head of the South Dakota court system, which has 605 employees and an annual operating budget of $78 million. The chief justice also works closely with the governor and the Legislature on matters related to the court system in South Dakota.
In Thursday’s press release, Jensen highlighted initiatives he helped to spearhead, including the creation of a statewide indigent defense office to provide more effective and efficient court-appointed representation in criminal cases, the founding of an access to courts commission to address the challenge of more self-represented people in civil cases, security enhancements at county courthouses, and the development of more focused and effective probation services for young adult offenders.
The South Dakota Supreme Court is comprised of five justices selected by the governor from five geographic appointment districts. In addition to the chief justice, the members of the court include Justices Janine M. Kern, Mark E. Salter, Patricia J. DeVaney and Scott P. Myren. The justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment and every eight years after that.
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