PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s Unified Judicial System is seeking public input on a proposal that could combine the administrative operations of the Fourth and Seventh Judicial Circuits in western South Dakota.
The proposal would affect 16 counties, including Pennington, Meade, Lawrence and Custer counties. Court officials say the goal is to improve efficiency, but stress that no decision has been made and the courts are not being merged at this time.
Residents will have an opportunity to learn more and share feedback during three public meetings on August 26. Meetings are scheduled in Rapid City, Sturgis and Lemmon.
The Fourth Judicial Circuit currently serves Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach counties. The Seventh Circuit includes Custer, Fall River, Oglala Lakota and Pennington counties.
People unable to attend a meeting can submit written comments to the State Court Administrator’s Office through October 1. The Unified Judicial System says public feedback will be reviewed before any formal proposal is sent to the South Dakota Supreme Court.
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