Office of Gov. Dennis Daugaard

500 E. Capitol Ave.

Pierre, S.D. 57501

605-773-3212

www.sd.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Monday, July 24, 2017

CONTACT:  Tony Venhuizen or Kelsey Pritchard at 605-773-3212

Gov. Daugaard Appoints Bern As First Circuit Judge

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Magistrate Judge Tami A. Bern as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s First Circuit Court.

“Judge Bern has a long record of public service, as a magistrate judge and a state’s attorney,” said Gov. Daugaard. “I particularly appreciate her leadership in creating the Yankton County drug court, and I thank her for taking on this new role.”

Bern will fill a vacancy created by the recent retirement of Hon. Glen A. Eng. The First Circuit includes Aurora, Bon Homme, Buffalo, Brule, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Hanson, Hutchinson, McCook, Turner, Union and Yankton counties.

“I am extremely honored to receive Governor Daugaard’s appointment to the circuit bench,” said Judge Bern. “I am grateful for the confidence he has shown in me and look forward to serving the First Circuit in this new capacity.” 

Bern is currently a magistrate judge in the First Circuit, a position she has held since 2007, and operates the Yankton County Drug Court. Prior to that service, she served as Clay County state’s attorney from 1997 to 2007 and as deputy state’s attorney from 1993 to 1997. She also worked in private practice from 1993 to 1997. Bern served on Gov. Rounds’ Commission on the Indian Child Welfare Act, and serves on the State Bar Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction Committee.

Bern is a Gettysburg native. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 1990 and graduated from USD School of Law in 1993. Bern lives in Vermillion with her husband, Arlan, and their children, Lauren and Josh.

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