South Dakota Codified Laws 16-12B-1.1. Number of magistrate judges
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;
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 16-12B-1.1
- Magistrate judges: Judicial officers who assist U.S. district judges in getting cases ready for trial, who may decide some criminal and civil trials when both parties agree to have the case heard by a magistrate judge instead of a judge.
(2) Second Circuit: Five full-time magistrate judges;
(3) Third Circuit: Two full-time magistrate judges;
(4) Fourth Circuit: Two full-time magistrate judges;
(5) Fifth Circuit: One full-time magistrate judge;
(6) Sixth Circuit: One full-time magistrate judge; and
(7) Seventh Circuit: Four full-time magistrate judges.
Source: § 16-12A-3.1; SL 2004, ch 317 (Supreme Court Rule 03-16), eff. Jan. 1, 2004; SL 2013, ch 264 (Supreme Court Rule 13-03), eff. Feb. 14, 2013; SL 2015, ch 263 (Supreme Court Rule 15-01), eff. Jan. 16, 2015; SL 2016, ch 243 (Supreme Court Rule 16-04), eff. July 1, 2016; SL 2020, ch 245 (Supreme Court Rule 19-15), eff. May. 1, 2019; Supreme Court Rule 23-16, eff. June 15, 2023.