David E. Gilbertson

David E. Gilbertson

South Dakota Supreme Court
  • South Dakota
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Biography

Chief Justice Gilbertson was elected to a 4-year term as Chief Justice by the members of the Supreme Court in September 2001, was re-elected to a second 4-year term as Chief Justice by the members of the Supreme Court in June 2005, a third 4-year term in June 2009 and a fourth 4-year term in June 2013. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in April 1995 to represent the Fifth Supreme Court District, which includes Brown, Butte, Campbell, Clark, Codington, Corson, Day, Deuel, Dewey, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Harding, Marshall, McPherson, Perkins, Potter, Roberts, Spink, Walworth and Ziebach counties, and was retained by the voters in the 1998, 2006 and 2014 general elections.
Chief Justice Gilbertson received his undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University in 1972 and his Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota, School of Law in 1975. He engaged in private practice from 1975 until his appointment to the circuit court bench in 1986. He served as a Circuit Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1986 until his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1995.
He is past President of the South Dakota Judges Association and is President-Elect of the Conference of Chief Justices and will serve as its President for the 2015-16 term. He chairs its Committees on Tribal/State Relations and the Task Force on Politics and Judicial Selection. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Conference of Chief Justices from 2005-2007. He is the Chair-Elect of the National Center for State Courts and will serve as its Chair for the 2015-16 term.
In 2006, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Center for State Courts for his defense of judicial independence. He was the recipient of the “Grass Roots” Award by the American Bar Association in 2014 also for his defense of judicial independence. Since 2010 he has served as the state representative on the Criminal Rules Committee of the United States Courts.

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
South Dakota
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Professional Experience
Justice
South Dakota Supreme Court
- Current
Chief Justice 2001-present
Judge
Fifth Judicial Circuit
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Attorney
Private Practice
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Education
University of South Dakota School of Law
J.D. (1975)
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South Dakota State University
B.A. (1972)
South Dakota State University Logo
Awards
“Grass Roots” Award
American Bar Association
Distinguished Service Award
National Center for State Courts
Professional Associations
South Dakota State Bar
Member
Current
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Judicial-Bar Liaison Committee of the State Bar Association
Member
Current
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Criminal Rules Committee of the United States Courts
State representative
- Current
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South Dakota Boys State
Court Counselor
- Current
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Conference of Chief Justices
President
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Activities: chairs its Committees on Tribal/State Relations and the Task Force on Politics and Judicial Selection; Board of Directors 2005-2007
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National Center for State Courts
Chair
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Websites & Blogs
Website
South Dakota Supreme Court and Court biography
Contact & Map
500 E Capitol Ave
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Telephone: (605) 773-3511
Fax: (605) 773-6128