The South Dakota Supreme Court will hold its March Term of Court at Augustana University in Sioux Falls on March 18 and 19, 2026. Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen has invited the public to attend the sessions, which will take place in Hamre Recital Hall at Fryxell Humanities Center.
On both days, oral arguments for three cases will begin at 9 a.m. CDT. Before the proceedings, starting at 8:30 a.m., Second Judicial Circuit Judge Jon C. Sogn and State Court Administrator Greg Sattizahn will provide an overview of South Dakota’s court system and explain what attendees can expect during the court process.
Chief Justice Jensen stated, “An open courtroom is essential to a strong democracy. By bringing the Supreme Court to Augustana University, we hope to provide students and community members a meaningful opportunity to observe the judicial process, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of how the rule of law impacts their daily lives.”
After oral arguments conclude each day, there will be an opportunity for high school students, college students, and members of the public to ask questions directly to the Supreme Court Justices. This Q&A session is scheduled for approximately 11:15 a.m. CDT.
Information about the schedule of cases, summaries of each case, biographies of justices, and an overview of appellate procedure are available in the March Term of Court Booklet. Details on courtroom protocol can be found in the Supreme Court’s Know Before You Go resource.
The South Dakota Supreme Court holds oral arguments at public institutions across the state twice yearly as part of efforts to increase public understanding and transparency in judicial proceedings. Area high school government classes have also been invited to attend these sessions.
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System acts as the judicial branch for state government and includes all levels from magistrate courts up through the Supreme Court. The system serves residents throughout South Dakota by promoting fair justice practices and supporting judicial education initiatives while offering online resources such as access to court records and legal forms.
