| South Dakota Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $121,450 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $36,906,193 |
| Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Four years |
| Authority: | South Dakota Constitution, Article 4, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Attorney General of South Dakota Marty J. Jackley | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other South Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of School and Public Lands • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents
- 1 Current officeholder
- 2 Authority
- 3 Qualifications
- 4 Vacancies
- 5 Duties
- 6 Elections
- 6.1 2022
- 6.2 2018
- 6.3 2014
- 6.4 Full history
- 6.5 Term limits
- 7 Divisions
- 8 State budget
- 9 Compensation
- 9.1 2022
- 9.2 2021
- 9.3 2020
- 9.4 2019
- 9.5 2018
- 9.6 2017
- 9.7 2016
- 9.8 2015
- 9.9 2014
- 9.10 2013
- 9.11 2010
- 10 Historical officeholders
- 11 Recent news
- 12 Contact information
- 13 See also
- 14 External links
- 15 Footnotes
The Attorney General of South Dakota is an elected executive position in the South Dakota state government. As the state's chief legal officer, the attorney general has three major duties: help local and state law enforcement officials fight crime, represent state officials in legal manners, and enforce consumer protection laws in the state.[1] The attorney general is elected every four years in the midterm elections and cannot serve more than two consecutive terms in office.[2]
South Dakota has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Attorney General of South Dakota is Marty J. Jackley (R). Jackley assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The attorney general's office is established in Article 4, Section 7 of the South Dakota Constitution.
Article IV, Section 7:
| There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands.[2] |
Qualifications
South Dakota Codified Law Section 1-11-1.1 requires the attorney general to be licensed to practice law in South Dakota under Section 16-16-1.[3]
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 3 of the state constitution grants the governor the authority to fill, by appointment, any vacancy in the office of attorney general.[2]
Duties
The attorney general has a variety of duties:[4]
| “ |
| ” |
Elections
South Dakota state government organizational chart
Article IV, Section 7 specifies that the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and commissioner of school and public lands are to be elected every four years.[2]
2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of South Dakota
Marty J. Jackley won election in the general election for Attorney General of South Dakota on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |
| Marty J. Jackley (R) | 100.0 | 257,419 |
| There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.Source | Total votes: 257,419 | ||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican convention
Republican convention for Attorney General of South Dakota
Marty J. Jackley defeated David Natvig in the Republican convention for Attorney General of South Dakota on June 25, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ |
| Marty J. Jackley (R) |
| David Natvig (R) | |
| There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.Source | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of South Dakota
Jason Ravnsborg defeated Randy Seiler in the general election for Attorney General of South Dakota on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |
| Jason Ravnsborg (R) | 55.2 | 179,071 |
| Randy Seiler (D) | 44.8 | 145,558 | |
| There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.Source | Total votes: 324,629 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tatewin Means (D)
- John Fitzgerald (R)
2014
Republican incumbent Marty J. Jackley won re-election on November 4, 2014.
| Attorney General of South Dakota, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote% | Votes | |
| Republican |  Marty Jackley Incumbent | 82% | 208,848 | |
| Libertarian | Chad Haber | 18% | 45,856 | |
| Total Votes | 254,704 | |||
| Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of South Dakota Attorney General, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2010 On November 2, 2010, Marty Jackley won re-election to the office of South Dakota Attorney General. He defeated Ron Volesky (D) in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Larry Long won re-election to the office of South Dakota Attorney General. He defeated Ron Volesky (D) and Randy Ristesund (L) in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Larry Long won election to the office of South Dakota Attorney General. He defeated Ron Volesky (D) and Bob Newland (L) in the general election.
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Term limits
Term limits for the attorney general are defined by Article IV, Section 7 of the South Dakota Constitution, which prevents an attorney general from being elected to more than two consecutive terms.
South Dakota Constitution, Article IV, Section 7:
| There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the Governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands.[2] |
Divisions
As of January 11, 2021, divisions within the Attorney General's Office included:[6]
- Appellate
- Civil
- Criminal
- Consumer Protection
- Medical Fraud Control
- Criminal Investigation
State budget
- See also: South Dakota state budget and finances
The budget for the attorney general's office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $36,906,193.[7]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: SD Codified L § 3-8-2.1 (2014)
The attorney general's annual compensation is set by Title 3, Chapter 8, Section 2 (§ 3-8-2.1) of the South Dakota Codified Laws and it may not be raised or diminished effective during his term in office, pursuant to Article XII, Section 3 of the South Dakota Constitution.
As is the case for all of South Dakota's elected executives, the attorney general's base salary is subject to annual rate increases under the General Appropriations Act for each corresponding year.[8]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $121,450, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $118,603, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $116,277 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $112,096 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $112,096 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $112,096 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $109,149 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $107,009 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $103,892 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated $100,876. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[18]
2010
In 2010, the attorney general was paid an estimated $97,928 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
Historical officeholders
| South Dakota Attorneys General | |
|---|---|
| Name (Party) | Years Served |
| Robert Dollard (R) | 1889-1893 |
| Coe I. Crawford (R) | 1893-1897 |
| Melvin Grigsby (R) | 1897-1899 |
| John L. Pyle (R) | 1899-1902 |
| A. W. Burtt (R) | 1902-1903 |
| Philo Hall (R) | 1903-1907 |
| S.W. Clark (R) | 1907-1911 |
| Royal C. Johnson (R) | 1911-1915 |
| Clarence C. Caldwell (R) | 1915-1919 |
| Byron S. Payne (R) | 1919-1923 |
| Buell F. Jones (R) | 1923-1929 |
| Merrell Q. Sharpe (R) | 1929-1933 |
| Walter Conway (R) | 1933-1937 |
| Clair Roddewig (D) | 1937-1939 |
| Leo A. Temmey (R) | 1939-1943 |
| George T. Mickelson (R) | 1943-1947 |
| Sigurd Anderson (R) | 1947-1951 |
| Ralph A. Dunham (R) | 1951-1955 |
| Phil Saunders (R) | 1955-1959 |
| Parnell J. Donahue (D) | 1959-1961 |
| A.C. Miller (R) | 1961-1963 |
| Frank L. Farrar (R) | 1963-1969 |
| Gordon J. Mydland (R) | 1969-1973 |
| Kermit A. Sande (D) | 1973-1975 |
| William J. Janklow (R) | 1975-1979 |
| Mark V. Meierhenry (R) | 1979-1987 |
| Roger Tellinghuisen (R) | 1987-1991 |
| Mark Barnett (R) | 1991-2003 |
| Larry Long (R) | 2003-2009 |
| Marty J. Jackley (R) | 2009-2019 |
| Jason Ravnsborg (R) | 2019-2022 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms SouthDakotaAttorneyGeneral. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Office of the Attorney General
1302 E Hwy 14
Suite 1
Pierre, SD 57501-8501
Phone: 605-773-3215
Toll Free Phone: 605-773-6585
Fax: 605-773-4106
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ South Dakota Attorney General's Office, "Homepage," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Constitution," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature, "Codified Laws Section 1-11-1.1," accessed December 22, 2021
- ↑ Atg.SD.gov, "DCI History," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management, "Budget in Brief - Fiscal Year 2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Justia.com, "2014 South Dakota Codified Laws: Title 3 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: Chapter 08 - Compensation of Officers and Employees § 3-8-2.1: Adjustment of salaries of constitutional officers and judges," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011
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