S.D. 3d Jud. Cir. Media Information

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT

Counties

Beadle, Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury,

Lake, Miner, Moody and Sanborn

Third 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 Pardy has appointed Circuit Administrator, Jenny Hammrich, as the Media Liaison for

the Third Judicial Circuit. Please contact the Circuit Administrator for all media inquiries. Her contact

information is 605.688.4621 or email Jenny.Hammrich@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 the Media Liaison if you are not sure how to proceed.

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. Media shall not interview or attempt to communicate with a witness in the action

concerning any issue in the case until after the jury has reached a verdict.

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

There shall be no audio or video recording or broadcast of any proceedings without permission of the

court. Further information can be found in Supreme Court Rule 10-09 and SDCL Chapter 16-20 at

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/16-20.

Credentialed press and media representatives may use laptop computers or tablets and may transmit

text from the courtroom provided the equipment is sufficiently quiet so as not to be a distraction to the

proceedings. The prohibition does not apply to members of the bar, their staff, law enforcement or UJS

staff. 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. Cell phones,

smart phones, laptop computers, and tablets shall be set to SILENT before entering the courtroom.