(Pierre, SD) — The first pieces are falling into place for the launch of South Dakota’s state-wide public defender’s office. That office will be subject to oversight from a commission with the members selected by the Governor, the South Dakota Supreme Court, State Legislature, and the state Association of County Commissioners. So far, eight of the nine of the seats on the commission have been formally announced. The initial goal is to help handle appeals in criminal cases in city courts and potentially from child abuse and neglect proceedings in the South Dakota Supreme Court.
