South Dakota Supreme Court
Pierre · A court of last resort in South Dakota.
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in South Dakota. Its justices are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections. This page lists every justice to serve on the court, current and former, with when they joined the bench and whom they succeeded.
Current bench verified against the court’s official roster, 2026-07-02.
Current justices
Former justices
| Justice | Years |
|---|---|
| Lori S. Wilbur | 2011 |
| Glen A. Severson | 2009 |
| Judith K. Meierhenry | 2002–2011 |
| Steven L. Zinter | 2002 |
| David E. Gilbertson | 1995 |
| John K. Konenkamp | 1994 |
| Robert A. Amundson | 1991–2002 |
| Robert A. Miller | 1986–2001 |
| Richard W. Sabers | 1986–2008 |
| George W. Wuest | 1984–1994 |
| Frank E. Henderson | 1979–1994 |
| Jon Fosheim | 1978–1986 |
| Robert E. Morgan | 1977–1991 |
| Donald James Porter | 1977–1979 |
| Lawrence J. Zastrow | 1976–1979 |
| Oren P. Coler | 1974–1977 |
| Francis G. Dunn | 1973–1985 |
| James M. Doyle | 1971–1976 |
| Fred R. Winans | 1971–1976 |
| Roger Leland Wollman | 1971–1985 |
| Frederick J. Homeyer | 1962–1971 |
| Frank Biegelmeier | 1959–1974 |
| Harold Bogue Jr. | 1957–1959 |
| Charles S. Hanson | 1956–1973 |
| Alex Rentto | 1955–1971 |
| Boyd Leedom | 1951–1955 |
| Charles R. Hayes | 1947–1951 |
| Vernon R. Sickel | 1937–1962 |
| St. Clair Smith | 1937–1962 |
| Everett D. Roberts | 1931–1970 |
| Herbert B. Rudolph | 1931–1957 |
How a justice reaches this court. Justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court are appointed by the governor to 8-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. The Judicial Qualifications Commission nominates and the governor appoints; the first retention election is three years after appointment, then every eight years. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any justice to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: Current roster: South Dakota Unified Judicial System (ujs.sd.gov) — Supreme Court and CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-07-02 (official roster); historical bench 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).