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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
500 East Capitol Ave.
PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA 57501
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 30, 2009
For more information: Joe Kafka or Roxy Everson, 605-773-3212
Governor Rounds Appoints Three Judges
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds appointed three circuit judges today. Two of them fill new positions, and one fills a vacancy.
Appointed to judgeships in the Second Judicial Circuit – including Minnehaha and Lincoln counties – were Larry Long, who currently is South Dakota attorney general, and Robin Jacobson Houwman, an assistant U.S. attorneyin Sioux Falls.
The Governor appointed Mary P. Thorstenson to the bench in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which includes Pennington, Custer, Shannon and Fall River counties. Thorstenson is currently attorney advisor in the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Hearings and Appeals in Rapid City.
“These are well-seasoned, impressive individuals,” Gov. Rounds said. “I believe they will serve South Dakotans well in their new roles as circuit judges.”
Long, Houwman and Thorstenson all graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law, in 1972, 1996 and 1988, respectively.
“I am delighted and honored at the Governor’s appointment, and I will do my best to justify the Governor’s confidence in me,” Long said.
“I’m humbled by the Governor’s appointment, and I look forward to serving on the bench and serving the people of South Dakota,” Houwman said Thursday.
“I’m very honored by the Governor’s appointment, and I will do my very best to fulfill my duties and serve the people of South Dakota with respect and dignity,” Thorstenson said.
The 2009 Legislature provided additional funds for new judgeships in the Second and Seventh Judicial Circuits. There also is a Second Judicial Circuit vacancy, which was created earlier this year when Gov. Rounds appointed Circuit Judge Glen A. Severson of Sioux Falls to the state Supreme Court.
Long, who will resign from his post as state attorney general, was first elected in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. He was chief deputy attorney general from 1991-2002.
The vacancy that will be created by Long’s resignation as attorney general will be filled later by the Governor, pursuant to state law (SDCL 3-4-1).
Gov. Rounds said he made the three selections from a list of 11 candidates submitted by the South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission.
“I appreciate the role of the Judicial Qualifications Commission for its work in sending outstanding candidates for my review,” the Governor said. “The commission’s hard work made this a difficult choice in deciding among the many qualified judicial applicants.”
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