Judicial Qualifications Commission

State of South Dakota

500 East Capitol Avenue

Pierre, SD  57101

Telephone 605-773-2099

Fax 605-773-8437

Mark Haigh, Chair                                                                  Lori Grode, Executive Assistant

Rebecca Porter, Vice Chair                                                     Email: Lori.Grode@ujs.state.sd.us

Hon. Robert Gusinsky, Secretary

Timothy Engel

Robert Morris

Rory King

Hon. Cheryle Gering

September 21, 2023

Notice of Judicial Vacancy

TO:                  All Active Members of the State Bar of South Dakota

FROM:            Robert Gusinsky, Secretary, Judicial Qualifications Commission

The retirement of the Hon. Tony L. Portra will create a vacancy for a Circuit Court Judge position (Position B) in the Fifth Judicial Circuit.  The duty station for this position shall be located in Aberdeen, SD.  The Judicial Qualifications Commission is re-advertising for this position and taking applications for this position.  As of July 1, 2023, the salary for a circuit judge position in South Dakota is $174,448.36.  In addition, circuit court judges and their dependents are eligible to participate in the State of South Dakota’s health insurance plan; circuit judges participate in the State’s defined benefit retirement plan. 

All lawyers and judges interested in applying should obtain the application form at http://ujs.sd.gov/, or contact Lori Grode at the State Court Administrator’s Office. The application must be returned to the Administrator’s Office and must be postmarked no later than 5:00 PM on October 2, 2023.  Applicants should make sure the application submitted is the 2018 revision. 

 You may also obtain the application form by writing or telephoning:

Lori Grode

State Court Administrator’s Office

500 East Capitol Avenue

Pierre, SD 57501

Telephone:  605-773-2099

Email:  lori.grode@ujs.state.sd.us

Or, visit http://ujs.sd.gov/ for current job openings.

The Fifth Circuit is comprised of the following counties:  Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Marshall, McPherson, Roberts, Spink, and Walworth.