NEWS FROM U.S. DISTRICT COURT
August 15, 2025
Non-Public Criminal Documents. Last week we changed the procedure for filing non-public criminal documents, which include sealed, restricted, and ex parte filings. Under the change, attorneys can no longer file non-public criminal documents in CM/ECF. Instead, non-public criminal documents must be brought to the Clerk’s Office for filing. If they are voluminous, they may be delivered on a flash drive. When submitting non-public criminal documents, please remember that: (1) they must include an original signature; and (2) they will be filed on the date received by the Clerk’s Office.
Judge Piersol Takes Inactive Senior Status. After 32 years as a district judge, Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has taken inactive senior status. He took senior status on August 1, 2009, remaining active in taking civil and criminal cases in the District of South Dakota and sitting by designation. His inactive senior status was effective July 31, 2025, although he will continue to preside over a few cases.
Reminder. The court will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day.