Justice Kern, who was appointed to the Supreme Court on November 25, 2014, by Governor Dennis Daugaard, represents the First Supreme Court District, which includes Custer, Lawrence, Meade and Pennington counties. Justice Jensen and his wife, Sue, have three children and three grandchildren. In 2009, Chief Justice Jensen was appointed as a Judicial Fellow to the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center in Washington D.C. Chief Justice Jensen served as chair of the Unified Judicial System’s Presiding Judges Council, president of the SD Judges Association, and has served on other boards and commissions. He became the Presiding Judge of the First Judicial Circuit in 2011. In 2003, Chief Justice Jensen was appointed as a First Judicial Circuit Judge by former Governor Mike Rounds. Sabers on the South Dakota Supreme Court before entering private practice in 1989. Paul, Minnesota in 1985 and his Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1988.

He received his undergraduate degree from Bethel University in St. Justice Jensen grew up on a farm near Wakonda, South Dakota. Chief Justice Jensen represents the Fourth Supreme Court District consisting of Union, Clay, Yankton, Hutchinson, Hanson, Davison, Bon Homme, Douglas, Aurora, Charles Mix, Gregory, McCook, Turner and Lincoln Counties. He was sworn in on November 3, 2017.Ĭhief Justice Jensen was selected by his colleagues on the Court to serve as Chief Justice beginning in January, 2021. Chief Justice Jensen was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Dennis Daugaard.

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