Office of the Governor
For Immediate Release: Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003
For More Information: Bob Mercer or Mike Mueller, 773-3212

Janklow Appoints Pete Fuller As Circuit Judge

(Pierre) – Gov. Bill Janklow announced Thursday he has appointed A.P. “Pete” Fuller of Lead as a new circuit judge for the southern Black Hills region of western South Dakota.

Fuller, 59, has practiced law in Lead since 1971. He has extensive experience in mining, environmental, employment and labor law.

Fuller will be a judge in the 7th Circuit, which covers the counties of Pennington, Custer, Fall River and Shannon. The vacancy was created as part of a reorganization of the 38 circuit judgeships, so that an additional judge was made available for the increasing workload in the 7th Circuit.

He is current chairman of the State Board of Bar Examiners, which oversees the licensing of lawyers to practice in South Dakota. He served as a member and chairman from 1990 through 1994 of the state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission, which screens and recommends candidates for South Dakota’s circuit courts and state Supreme Court.

Fuller was one of several candidates recommended to Janklow by the qualifications commission.  “These were all good candidates. This is a tough circuit. Pete brings a lot of strong experience, and from my discussions with him it’s clear he understands the demands of the job,” Janklow said.

Fuller is a 1968 graduate of the University of South Dakota law school. He and his wife, Jacqualyn, have four grown children.

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