United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
About This Court
Established as a federal district court for the state of South Dakota, this court holds jurisdiction over all federal civil and criminal matters arising within South Dakota's borders. The district is part of the Eighth Circuit and covers a geographically large area that includes significant federal interests related to Native American law, given the presence of multiple federally recognized tribes and extensive reservation lands within the state.
The court operates across several divisions spread throughout South Dakota, reflecting the state's dispersed population and vast rural territory. Cases involving tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and matters arising under federal Indian law represent a distinctive portion of the docket compared to many other federal districts.
With six active Article III judges serving a state of relatively modest population, the court maintains a manageable overall caseload, though the geographic spread of the district and the complexity of Indian law matters shape the court's work in notable ways.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of South Dakota.
Divisions
Northern Division (Aberdeen), Central Division (Pierre), Southern Division (Sioux Falls), Western Division (Rapid City)
Caseload
The district has a notable concentration of cases involving federal Indian law, tribal jurisdiction, and matters arising from the state's several Native American reservations. Agricultural, natural resources, and federal criminal matters also feature prominently on the docket.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, which generally requires admission to the South Dakota State Bar and submission of an application to the clerk of court. Local rules govern admission pro hac vice for attorneys not regularly admitted to the district.
Clerk's Office
400 South Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 330-6600
Active Judges 6
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Kornmann | William J. Clinton | 1995 | Georgetown College (now Georgetown University) Law Center |
| Roberto Lange | Barack Obama | 2009 | Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law) |
| Lawrence Piersol | William J. Clinton | 1993 | University of South Dakota School of Law (now Knudson School of Law) |
| Karen Schreier | William J. Clinton | 1999 | St. Louis University School of Law |
| Eric Schulte | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | University of South Dakota School of Law (now Knudson School of Law) |
| Camela Theeler | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | University of South Dakota School of Law (now Knudson School of Law) |
Local Rules
40 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.
Civil Rules 33
General Rules 5
Attorney Rules 2
| Rule | Title |
|---|---|
| LR 83.2 | ATTORNEYS |
| LR 83.7 | WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL |