UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA

In the Matter of the Selection of a Full-Time United States Magistrate Judge, Western Division.

ORDER APPOINTING MERIT SELECTION PANEL 25-07

A Merit Selection Panel is appointed to assist the United States District Court Judges in their selection of a new full-time magistrate judge for the Western Division. The panel will review and evaluate applications received for the magistrate judge position and make recommendations to the District Judges
on whom to interview.
The panel will report to the Court the names of up to five persons it deems most qualified among the applicants no later than January 12, 2026. The report may contain vwitten reasons substantiating the panel's decision. All information received by the panel on all applicants through this process should be
included in what the panel submits to the Court. All information made available to the members of the panel, including the names of the applicants and the identities of individuals recommended by the panel, must be kept in strict confidence by the panel and the Court. The Court has notified each panel member in writing of the one-year restriction on a panel member's subsequent application for a magistrate judgeship. ee Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol. 3, § 420.30.20(d).

The Court appoints the following members of the Merit Selection Panel:
Jane Wipf Pfeifle, chair (lawyer)
Marlys Big Eagle (non-lawyer)
Neil Fulton (lawyer)
Ronald Parsons (lawyer)
Luke Yellow Robe (non-lawyer)
David Dillon (lawyer)
Margo Julius (lawyer)
Jason Tupman (lawyer)

The effective date of the panel's appointment is October 27, 2025.
         Dated this 27th day of October 2025.

BY THE COURT:

ROBERTO A. LANGE, CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA