500 E. Capitol Ave.

Pierre, SD 57501

(605) 773-3212

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009

CONTACT: Joe Kafka or Roxy Everson at (605) 773-3212

 

(Severson: (SEEV’-ur-suhn)

 

                        Gov. Rounds Appoints Supreme Court Justice

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds has appointed veteran Circuit Judge Glen A. Severson of Sioux Falls to the South Dakota Supreme Court.

 

Severson, 59, has been the presiding judge in the Second Judicial Circuit since 2002.

 

“Glen Severson is a well-respected, presiding Circuit Court judge,” Gov. Rounds said Thursday.  “He is a seasoned jurist who will provide fair and reasoned analysis and legal decisions with the utmost trust and integrity.”

 

Severson fills the vacancy created on the high court when Justice Richard W. Sabers recently retired. Sabers had served on the state Supreme Court since 1986.

 

“I am humbled and overwhelmed by the Governor’s confidence in me,” Severson said. “I’ll do my best to fulfill my responsibilities for the people of South Dakota.”

 

Severson, a Valley Springs native, received his undergraduate degree at the University of South Dakota in 1972 and finished law school at USD in 1975.

 

After law school, Severson served as deputy states attorney in Huron from 1975-1976. He practiced law in private firms at Huron from 1976-1993.

 

Severson served on the state Board of Water and Natural Resources from 1986-1993, when he received his judgeship. He was president of the South Dakota Judges Association in 2001.

 

Severson, who was an electronics technician in the South Dakota Air National Guard from 1967-1973, also has served for 10 years on a state court system committee that specializes in information technology.

 

“Judge Severson has been requested on numerous occasions to participate in state Supreme Court proceedings and has been instrumental in providing expertise for various Unified Judicial System projects and endeavors,” Gov. Rounds said.

 

Severson initially was appointed as a judge by the late-Gov. George Mickelson.

 

The newest justice on the five-member state Supreme Court is married to Mary Schweitzer Severson. The couple have two children: Thomas and Kathryn.

 

-30-