The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled (Oct. 27, 2021) in favor of a state legislative leader in a lawsuit over making public the names of lawmakers who signed a petition supporting a special session on the possible impeachment of the state’s attorney general.
House Speaker Spencer Gosch tells DRG Media Group the information being requested by the South Dakota Newspaper Association and the Argus Leader is available, but not in the format they wanted.
Gosch did disclose that at least two-thirds of the House members supported holding a special session. Nov. 9, 2021, is the date they’ll consider the possible impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. If the House votes in favor of proceeding, the Senate will hear arguments and make the decision.
Representative Mike Weisgram of Fort Pierre told DRG Media Group he also voted in favor of holding a special session. The date for that gathering has been set for Nov. 9, 2021.
In August (Aug. 26, 2021), Ravnsborg pleaded “no contest” to two misdemeanor traffic charges related to the death of Joeseph Boever near Highmore just over a year ago (Sept. 12, 2020). The judge ordered no jail time, but ordered Ravnsborg to pay a $500 on each of the two misdemeanor counts as well as associated court costs.
ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY:
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court is siding with a legislative leader who has refused to disclose the names of lawmakers who signed a petition calling for a special session on impeachment of the state’s attorney general. The high court ruled Wednesday (Oct. 27, 2021) in a lawsuit brought by the South Dakota Newspaper Association and the Argus Leader against House Speaker Spencer Gosch. The Glenham Republican won’t disclose the names of legislators who signed the petition after earlier announcing that at least two-thirds of the House members had signed it. A special session on the impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg will be held Nov. 9, 2021.
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