PRESS RELEASE

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            Chief Judge Lavenski R. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently announced that the court has appointed Laura Lynn Kulm Ask as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of South Dakota. Judge Kulm Ask will succeed Judge Charles L. Nail, Jr. upon his retirement. Her chambers will be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Prior to taking the bench, Laura was a partner at the law firm of Gerry & Kulm Ask, Prof. LLC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she practiced in the areas of bankruptcy, debtor-creditor rights, corporate law, and estate planning. 

Laura has practiced bankruptcy law for almost twenty years.  She has served on multiple committees including the District of South Dakota’s Federal Practice Committee, the South Dakota Local Bankruptcy Rules Committee, and the South Dakota State Bar Debtor/Creditor Committee.  She has written articles that were published in South Dakota State Bar newsletters on bankruptcy changes and she sat on sub-committees that reviewed statutes and proposed legislation to recommend revisions or changes.  Laura participated in creating a bankruptcy video, Bankruptcy Matters, which was circulated by the South Dakota State Bar to entice young practitioners to start a career in bankruptcy law, and she has presented at several continuing legal education seminars on bankruptcy topics and changes over the years on multiple platforms.  Laura has volunteered at legal clinics for veterans, provided pro bono or reduced rate legal services independently and through Access to Justice and East River Legal Services, and has volunteered numerous hours to other charities and organizations.

Laura was born and raised on a family farm located near Selby, South Dakota, which is still owned by her parents, Ralph and Patricia Kulm.  She received her bachelor of science degree from the University of South Dakota and her juris doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law.  She and her husband, LeRoy, and their three children, Ashley, Hayden, and Julia live on an acreage near Brandon, South Dakota.