On January 14, 2026, Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen of the South Dakota Supreme Court delivered the State of the Judiciary address. The message focused on several key areas including the Unified Judicial System’s strategic plan, indigent legal defense, probation and treatment courts, judicial security, and maintaining a strong judicial workforce.
A PDF version of Chief Justice Jensen’s remarks is available on the Unified Judicial System (UJS) website. Those interested in reviewing previous State of the Judiciary messages can also find them online. For further information or questions about the address, contact UJS Public Information Officer Alisa Bousa at Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us or by phone at 605.773.2031.
Chief Justice Jensen stated that the courts are committed to protecting liberties through ongoing efforts in these areas.
