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Unified Judicial System asks for staff attorney and IT funding in FY26 budget
Summary
South Dakota Unified Judicial System officials told the Joint Appropriations Committee they are requesting one staff attorney for the 3rd Circuit, space for a Sioux Falls one‑stop office and increased authority from the court automation fund to prepare for a new probation supervision system and IT licensing costs.
The Unified Judicial System told the South Dakota Joint Appropriations Committee that its FY26 request is modest and focused on operations and technology support. Chief Justice Steve Jensen and State Court Administrator Greg Santazon said the court is asking for one staff attorney for the 3rd Circuit, office space in a Sioux Falls “one‑stop” building and additional court automation spending authority for technology upgrades.
The request matters because UJS officials said staffing and IT form almost 90% of their budget and directly affect judges’ ability to handle rising case complexity, especially filings from self‑represented litigants. "We have only 1 FTE request. That's a staff attorney position in the 3rd Circuit," Chief Justice Steve Jensen said, describing judges' need for experienced legal research help to process lengthy pro se filings.
Santazon told the committee the 3rd Circuit covers 13 counties with eight judges and a research ratio that he described as
