State Supreme Court Justice Kern announces retirement

South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Janine M. Kern will retire on December 8, 2025, after nearly 29 years of judicial service. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2014 by Governor Dennis Daugaard to represent the First Supreme Court District (Custer, Lawrence, Meade, and Pennington counties), Kern previously served 18 years as a circuit court judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Before her judicial career, she worked in the Attorney General’s office from 1985 to 1996. Kern, a member of several legal associations, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, while Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen praised her commitment to justice and compassion. Governor Larry Rhoden lauded her as a role model and aims to appoint a successor of her caliber. The Judicial Qualifications Commission will nominate candidates for the governor to select her replacement.