S.D. 1st Jud. Cir. Media Information

First Judicial Circuit Court

Cheryle Gering 410 Walnut Street, Suite 201 Kim Allison Presiding Judge

Presiding Circuit Judge Yankton, SD 57078 Circuit Administrator Cheryle Gering

Phone: (605) 668-3095 Circuit Judges

Bruce Anderson

Fax: (605) 668-5499

Tami Bern

Circuit Administrator Chris Giles

Kim Allison David Knoff

Chief Court Services Officer Patrick Smith

Ron Freeman Magistrate Judges

Deputy Chief CSO Donna Bucher

Ryan Mockler Kasey Sorensen

Circuit Assistant

Joan Novak

First Circuit Media Information

MEDIA RELATIONS

The court staff are there to help you. However, their role is to provide you with the information you

need, not to provide legal advice or speculate on how a case will proceed. They can provide you with

any public information they have available and explain process and procedures in general. The clerks

may refer you to other resources to help you more effectively.

MEDIA LIAISON

Presiding Judge Cheryle Gering has appointed Circuit Administrator Kim Allison as the Media

Liaison for the First Judicial Circuit. Ms. Allison is the central contact person for all media inquiries,

including requests for expanded media coverage (recording) of a court matter. Her office is on the

second floor of the Yankton County Courthouse & Safety Center. She can be reached at 605-668-

5685 or at Kim.Allison@ujs.state.sd.us.

More information regarding resources for the media and how to request expanded media coverage is

available on the UJS website at https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media.

Requests for access to documents in a case file should be directed to the Clerk of Court’s office in

the applicable county. A clerk will inform you of costs for copying or conducting records searches.

DECORUM

Media representatives are expected to be sufficiently familiar with court proceedings to conduct

themselves so as not to interfere with the dignity of the proceedings, or to distract counsel or the

court. All media personnel shall be properly attired.

The Judge presiding over a specific case may make special rules as to where interviews may be

conducted in or around the courthouse. This may change from time to time depending on the nature

of the case. Generally, interviews of parties, counsel, witnesses, or members of the public are not

allowed on the same floor as the courtroom nor in the Clerk’s office. Often, the Judge handling a

high-profile case may issue an Order for Expanded Media Coverage which sets out how the media

may proceed during the trial. Check with Media Liaison Kim Allison if you are not sure how to

proceed.

AURORA, BON HOMME, BRULE, BUFFALO, CHARLES MIX, CLAY, DAVISON,

DOUGLAS, HANSON, HUTCHINSON, MCCOOK, TURNER, UNION & YANKTON COUNTIES

The courtrooms are open to the public and the media except in those cases that are designated

confidential by law. The Judge may designate special assigned seating for media in the courtroom but

is not required to do so.

CAMERAS AND EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM

Reporters or other media personnel will not be allowed to impede the movement of court staff,

lawyers, parties, witnesses, or spectators in and out of the courthouse or the courtroom. This may

include areas near stairwells or elevators, certain interior office doorways, or entrances/exits to the

building where the proceeding is being held. This applies to interviews and reporting. Use of media

equipment/devices is allowed in public areas of the courthouse, but media may not take pictures or

video through any courtroom door windows. Media should consult with any law enforcement present

and/or the Media Liaison as to where they are allowed to set up.

CAMERAS AND EQUIPMENT IN THE COURTROOM

Cameras, video equipment, and recording devices are allowed in the courtroom only if

specifically authorized by order of the Judge presiding over the case. Further information can be

found in Supreme Court Rule 10-09 and SDCL Chapter 16-20 at https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/16-

20.

Cell phones, pagers, beepers, smart phones, or similar electronic devices are not allowed at all in

some First Circuit courtrooms. If allowed, they must be turned off before entering the courtroom

and are not to be activated in the courtroom unless the Judge has authorized the media to use

their devices to take notes in the courtroom. If authorized, they must be set on silent. Media

representatives should request a badge from the Clerk’ office or the Media Liaison if they are allowed

to use their electronics in the courtrooms so courtroom security is aware.

FEES

There is a fee for photocopy and fax services. Photocopy fees vary. The cost is usually $.20/page.

A record search fee may apply if you do not have a file number for the case or person you are inquiring

about and are not a party to the case. That fee ranges from $5-$20, although it may be waived for

official media representatives in some cases.

Payments are accepted at the time the service is provided unless you have an established charge

account with the Unified Judicial System. To request an account, please contact UJS Public Access

Record System (PARS) support at UJSPARSsupport@ujs.state.sd.us.

AURORA, BON HOMME, BRULE, BUFFALO, CHARLES MIX, CLAY, DAVISON,

DOUGLAS, HANSON, HUTCHINSON, MCCOOK, TURNER, UNION & YANKTON COUNTIES