South Dakota Supreme Court

State Supreme Court reverses pit bull conviction

June 2, 2022 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court says a man convicted of owning dangerous dogs wasn’t afforded due process.

The Argus Leader reported the court reversed Christopher Alexander’s conviction on Thursday.

Judge delays release of affidavits in Sanford investigation

May 31, 2022 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota judge has delayed the release of affidavits in the child pornography investigation of banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, days after the South Dakota attorney general's office declined to file charges.

Supreme Court: Board had authority to reject large hog farm

March 18, 2022 GMT

REDFIELD, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court agrees that a Spink County board had the authority to reject an application for a large-scale hog operation in 2018.

The high court's decision upholds a lower court ruling which rejected calls for additional testimony in the case.

Yankton man convicted of manslaughter resentenced

February 24, 2022 GMT

YANTON, S.D. (AP) — A Yankton man convicted in a 2019 fatal shooting has received significantly less prison time after the South Dakota Supreme Court vacated his original sentence.

Jameson Mitchell, who pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of Lucas Smith in Yankton, was resentenced Wednesday to 60 years in the state penitentiary with 15 years suspended and about 3 years credit for time served.

Supreme Court sides with trailer court in pit bull attack

January 28, 2022 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled a Yankton trailer court owner isn't liable for injuries to a child who was attacked by a tenant's dog.

Teresa Burgi appealed a case she brought on behalf of herself and as a guardian for the boy who was injured at the trailer court in September 2017.

South Dakota Chief Justice’s speech pushing care for staff

By STEPHEN GROVESJanuary 12, 2022 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen on Wednesday requested $5 million to bolster court security while updating the Legislature on how the state's court system is tackling sexual harassment, mental health for judges and a shortage of court reporters.

Court filings: Probe of billionaire Sanford remains open

January 12, 2022 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota attorney general's office and the lawyer for billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford have confirmed in recent court filings that an investigation into Sanford for possible possession of child pornography is still ongoing.

South Dakota Supreme Court rules against pot legalization

By STEPHEN GROVESNovember 24, 2021 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court's ruling that nullified a voter-passed amendment to the state constitution that would have legalized recreational marijuana use.

S.D. high court: Warrants in Sanford probe will be unsealed

By AMY FORLITIOctober 28, 2021 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Search warrants will be unsealed in an investigation into billionaire banker-turned philanthropist T.

Supreme Court rules in non-disclosure of session supporters

October 28, 2021 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court is siding with a legislative leader who has refused to disclose the names of lawmakers who signed a petition calling for a special session on impeachment of the state's attorney general.

Court: Pierre not liable for injuries caused by fire trainee

September 23, 2021 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court, in an opinion released Thursday, agreed with a lower court ruling that two people on a motorcycle who were severely injured in a crash with a volunteer firefighting trainee cannot collect damages from the city of Pierre and its fire department.

S.D. court may unseal investigation of billionaire Sanford

By STEPHEN GROVESAugust 25, 2021 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court Tuesday weighed whether to unseal a search warrant and affidavits in an investigation into billionaire banker-turned-philanthropist T. Denny Sanford for possible possession of child pornography.

Supreme Court orders resentencing in manslaughter case

August 5, 2021 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has ordered a Yankton man be resentenced for manslaughter.

Jameson Mitchell pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Lucas Smith outside a Yankton bar in April of 2019.