Title 16, COURTS AND JUDICIARY

In any case where, because of any extraordinary circumstances, the interests of justice demand an immediate trial, the court may, upon its own motion, call and hold a special term of court, and summon a jury when necessary, in the county where such action is pending, and hear, tr…

The circuit judge may by order provide for the holding of such additional special terms, or adjourned terms as the pending business, in his judgment, requires. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1101.

The judge of the circuit court shall have power, upon request of the board of county commissioners or upon his own motion, by an order to that effect, to appoint and hold special terms, at the county seat of any county within his circuit, and such special terms shall be regarded …

All terms of the circuit court within and for each county shall be held at the county seat thereof. Source: SL 1913, ch 160 , § 1; RC 1919, § 5185; SL 1923, ch 303 , § 4; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 32.0401; SL 1966, ch 114 , § 1; SL 1985, ch 15 , § 33.

At the time designated by law, there shall be regular terms of circuit court held in the several counties, if there be any cases ready for trial. Juries shall be called for such terms if there are any jury cases for trial. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1101.

If he deem it proper, the presiding judge of the circuit court may postpone the opening of a term for a reasonable time to a day certain. If no order of postponement be made and the presiding judge does not appear at the time for the opening of the term, the clerk of courts may a…

Any regular or special term of the circuit court may be adjourned, by order entered in the minutes, to any day preceding the first day of the next regular term in the county in which the court is being held, at which time the business of the court shall be resumed as if no adjour…

At the end of any sitting, the circuit court may adjourn the term from time to time to a day certain or until the further notice and order of the court, in which case the same jury panel shall report as may be ordered. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1102.

Unless terminated by order of the court, a regular term of the circuit court shall be deemed in session and subject to sitting at call of the court, until the actual opening of the next following regular or special term. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1102.

The judge may at any time terminate a term of the circuit court and dismiss the jury from further attendance by an order declaring the term at an end, announced in open court and entered in the minutes. The judge may thereafter call a special term if in his opinion the public int…

The number of circuit judges of each of the judicial circuits established by § 16-5-1.2 is as follows: (1) First Circuit: Six circuit judges; (2) Second Circuit: Fourteen circuit judges; (3) Third Circuit: Six circuit judges; (4) Fourth Circuit: Four circuit judges; (5) Fifth Cir…

The circuit court has jurisdiction of appeals from all final judgments, decrees, or orders of all courts of limited jurisdiction, inferior officers, or tribunals, in the cases prescribed by statute. Source: CCivP 1877, § 29; CL 1887, § 4826; RCCivP 1903, § 31; RC 1919, § 2115; SD…

The circuit court has exclusive original jurisdiction to try and determine all cases of felony, and original jurisdiction concurrent with courts of limited jurisdiction as provided by law to try and determine all cases of misdemeanor and actions or proceedings for violation of an…

The circuit court has jurisdiction to inquire into the cause of detention of all persons confined in the jail of the county or otherwise detained, and to make an order for their recommitment or discharge, or otherwise according to law, and to exercise such other powers as are con…

The circuit court has the power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, and all other writs necessary to carry into effect its judgments, decrees, and orders, and to give to it a general control over inferior courts, officers, boards, tribunals, corpo…

The circuit court is always open for the purposes of hearing and determining all actions, special proceedings, motions, and applications of whatever kind or character, and whether of a civil or criminal nature, arising under the laws of the state and of which it has jurisdiction,…

Issues of fact in any civil or criminal action in the circuit court shall be tried in the county in which the action is brought, or to which the place of trial is changed by order of the court upon the consent of the parties to such action or their attorneys, or upon the grounds …

A judge of the circuit court is a judge of the circuit court in the State of South Dakota and in any circuit in which he acts as a judge. The orders, judgments, and decrees of a circuit judge acting in a county other than one in his own circuit shall be as effectual for all purpo…

At the general election in the year 1974 and every eight years thereafter, the judges of the circuit courts shall be elected for a term of eight years. Source: SL 1901, ch 118 , § 1; RPolC 1903, § 651; RC 1919, § 5166; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 32.0402; SL 1966, ch 114 , § 2; SL 19…

A judge of a circuit court is automatically retired on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January next after the general election at which members of the Legislature are elected immediately following the attainment of age seventy of such judge. Such judge shall conclude …

Retired justices and judges, with their consent, may be authorized by the Chief Justice to preside in any action or proceeding, or over any term of court, in the circuit court and when so authorized and acting, the orders, judgments, and decrees of that court entered by him are a…

The presiding judge of each circuit shall receive additional compensation for administrative duties in the sum of two thousand dollars for each presiding circuit court judge. The additional compensation provided for by this section shall not be credited to the highest average ann…

Each circuit judge shall be reimbursed all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of office including traveling expense, food, and lodging while traveling outside the county designated by the presiding judge as the circuit judge's duty station, together with…

The board of county commissioners in every county in this state may provide the circuit judge of the judicial circuit of which such county forms a part with suitable and sufficient courtroom facilities and equip the same to conduct the business of the court at a place other than …

The circuit court possesses chancery as well as common - law jurisdiction. Source: CCivP 1877, § 27; CL 1887, § 4824; RCCivP 1903, § 29; RC 1919, § 2113; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 32.0903.

The circuit court has original jurisdiction as follows: (1) In all actions or proceedings in chancery; (2) In all actions at law and in equity; (3) In all cases where the title or boundary to real property comes in question; (4) In all actions for divorce or annulment of marriage…

The circuit court may use facsimile transmission to accelerate the issuance, execution, and delivery of all papers, orders and warrants, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Criminal matters: arrest and search warrants; (2) Juvenile matters: orders or warrants for ta…

As used in this chapter, the term, magistrate, means a clerk magistrate or a magistrate judge appointed under the authority of this chapter. Any magistrate judge appointed under the authority of this chapter shall be licensed to practice law in the State of South Dakota. Source: …

The compensation of a magistrate shall be fixed by law and for such purpose the Supreme Court in its annual consolidated budget for the Unified Judicial System shall make recommendations relating thereto. The state shall provide from funds appropriated therefor for the salaries a…

Pursuant to the provisions of S.D. Const., Art. V, § 4, there is hereby established within each judicial circuit a magistrate court. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 2.

Any magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding is a court of record. However, no magistrate court with a clerk magistrate presiding is a court of record. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 3.

Unless appeal is denied by law, there is a right of appeal to the circuit court from any final order or judgment of the magistrate court, and such appeal shall be taken in the manner prescribed by law or rule for appeals to the circuit court. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 7.

Each county in the state shall provide suitable and adequate facilities for the magistrate court, including the facilities necessary to make the space provided functional for its intended use. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 8.

Subject to such rules as may be promulgated by the Supreme Court, the presiding circuit judge in each judicial circuit shall appoint a sufficient number of magistrates as may be necessary to provide adequate and qualified judicial personnel for each county and municipality in the…

Any municipality in the state may, at its discretion, and in cooperation with the presiding judge of the circuit, provide suitable and adequate quarters for a magistrate court assigned principally to serve the municipality, including the facilities necessary to make the space pro…

Filing fees in magistrate court, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be the same as the fees chargeable by the clerk of courts for the filing of actions or proceedings in the circuit court, including the fees prescribed pursuant to § 14-6-1 where applicable. Source: Supreme C…

Each magistrate shall be appointed by the presiding judge of the circuit court and serve at the pleasure of the presiding judge. However, the Supreme Court may, by rule, provide that magistrates may be appointed for a definite term. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 5.

If the business of a magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding becomes congested or if a magistrate judge is, for any cause, unable to act, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may, by order, temporarily transfer to such magistrate court a magistrate judge from another…

The number of magistrate judges in the judicial circuits established by § 16-5-1.2 is fixed as follows: (1) First Circuit: Two full-time magistrate judges; (2) Second Circuit: Five full-time magistrate judges; (3) Third Circuit: Two full-time magistrate judges; (4) Fourth Circuit…

The presiding judge of each circuit shall certify to the state court administrator the name of each law - trained person that he proposes to appoint in his circuit. Prior to the appointment of any magistrate judge the presiding judge shall present to the state court administrator…

Persons appointed as full-time magistrate judges shall be appointed for a term of four years from and after the date of the approval of the appointment by the Supreme Court subject to any conditions imposed by the Supreme Court. Full-time magistrate judges may be subject to remov…

A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts to act as a committing magistrate for all purposes. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 19.

A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts to try and determine all cases of misdemeanor and actions or proceedings for violation of any ordinance, bylaw, or other police regulation of a political subdivision. Source: …

A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts to try and determine all small claim proceedings. Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 21.

A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts to try and determine any civil action if the debt, damage, claim, or value of the property involved does not exceed twelve thousand dollars. A magistrate court with a magistra…

A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has jurisdiction, upon assignment of the presiding judge of the circuit, to act in lieu of a circuit judge having jurisdiction heretofore granted to county courts or district county courts or judges thereof in relation to the e…