Since 1889, 49 South Dakotans have served as justices of the state Supreme Court. But according to current Chief Justice David Gilbertson, most of them left little behind other than legal opinions. Last year, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of statehood and South Dakota’s judicial system, the five Supreme Court justices recorded oral histories for the Judicial Voices Project. Former living justices were also interviewed about their time on the court along with three veteran attorneys who provided some of the court’s history.
Partners in this effort include the Court itself, the University of South Dakota School of Law, and the Unified Judicial System. In addition, the South Dakota Humanities Council aided the project with a small grant; additional support came from the Woods Fuller Law Firm in Sioux Falls.
The Judicial Voices Project is the result of conversations between Chief Justice David Gilbertson and John Glover, professor of American Indian Studies at Black Hills State University. Glover also served as associate dean of the USD School of Law. They joined Dakota Midday and discussed the Judicial Voice Project.
You can find the online Judicial Voices Project here.