The South Dakota Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Presiding Judge will step down from that position in September (Sept. 24, 2023).
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen says Judge Bobbi J. Rank has decided to step down, but will remain a circuit court judge within the Sixth Circuit and will remain stationed in Winner. Jensen says he is appointing the Honorable Christina Klinger to take over as Presiding Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Presiding Judges are the administrative heads of their respective circuits. The Sixth Judicial Circuit consists of Bennett, Gregory, Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Todd and Tripp counties.
Having led the Sixth Circuit for the last four years from Winner, Judge Rank decided it was time for the presiding judgeship to return to Pierre, where most administrative responsibilities of the presiding judge reside, along with the other three circuit judges, Christina Klinger, M. Bridget Mayer and Margo Northrup.
Chief Justice Jensen thanked Judge Rank for her service as “an incredible leader for the Circuit the last several years as she led the Circuit through significant change and the challenges of the pandemic. She has been a steady hand for the court system in this part of the State throughout this time.”
The Chief Justice expressed his appreciation for Judge Klinger’s willingness to serve the Unified Judicial System and people of South Dakota in this manner. “I am confident that Judge Klinger will be an excellent Presiding Judge and will continue the fine tradition of leadership in the Sixth Circuit.”
Prior to her appointment to the bench Judge Klinger was engaged in the private practice of law in Pierre.
Previous Chief Justice David Gilbertson appointed Rank to lead the Sixth Circuit in April of 2019, when the other three circuit judges, John Brown, Mark Barnett and Patricia DeVaney, moved on through retirement or promotion. Current Chief
Justice Steven R. Jensen reappointed Rank as presiding judge in January of 2021.
Pursuant to Article V, Section 11 of the South Dakota Constitution, Presiding Judges are appointed by the Chief Justice and serve at his pleasure.
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