Federal officers used pepper spray and shot and killed a young man with a criminal history moments after he livestreamed himself brushing his teeth in the basement of a tribal housing unit on the Yankton Sioux Reservation.
Zander Zephier, 23, died Nov. 27 just north of this southeast South Dakota town, about 40 minutes after the U.S. Marshals Service arrived to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
Continue reading “Man killed in raid on Yankton Sioux Reservation”
Federal judges work to ensure equal justice under the law. Learn about the different kinds of federal judges and the cases they hear.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is calling for a constitutional amendment to ensure that child victims of crime do not have to testify inside a courtroom alongside their alleged abusers.
In June, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a man who argued it was unconstitutional for two children to testify against him though a live, closed-circuit video link that allowed the children to sit in a remote location just outside the courtroom.
Continue reading “Iowa AG pushes for constitutional amendment on child testimony”
An effective and efficient system of indigent defense is important for all South Dakotans. South Dakota has devoted a couple years of study, discussion and legislative action to the issue. Judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, county commissioners, legislators and others have all worked together in this effort. This broad cooperation reflects the importance of the issue and provides a foundation to successfully tackle it.
Last year, the Legislature created and funded the Commission on Indigent Legal Services and a statewide public defender office. They are tasked with developing standards for assigning cases, providing training to private lawyers who take appointments, and handling appeals in criminal cases across South Dakota.
Continue reading “An exciting turning point for the defense of people who can’t afford lawyers”
Complaints about law enforcement have steadily risen over the past few years, owing in part to an online portal that simplifies the process of making a complaint to the state Division of Criminal Investigation about alleged police misconduct.
Even with the rise, though, fewer than 1% of certified officers in South Dakota were disciplined for their behavior in 2024.
Between Eric Holder’s soft-on-crime memo, James Comey’s election meddling, and Jack Smith’s incessant lawfare, the United States Department of Justice has spent much of the last two decades in the proverbial wilderness. The incoming Trump administration has the opportunity and incentive to reshape DOJ. Here are five steps it can take to restore a department in desperate need of change.
Row the boat or get thrown overboard. It’s time for line federal prosecutors—Assistant United States Attorneys—to get back to work. In 2010, federal prosecutors brought 68,591 new federal criminal cases. By 2023, the same number of U.S. attorneys were handling just 49,913 new cases, a huge drop. You would have to go back to 1998 to find a year with fewer federal prosecutions.
Continue reading “Five Ways to Right the Department of Justice”
May your Thanksgiving be filled to the brim with gratitude, love, and happiness.
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Bellevue, Nebraska, man has been arraigned on charges of Kidnapping, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, and Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.
Continue reading “Nebraska Man Indicted and Detained for Kidnapping South Dakota Minor”
Donald Trump’s second presidential term will begin on Jan. 20, bringing with it promises to dramatically reshape many aspects of the criminal justice system. The U.S. Senate — with its authority over confirming judicial nominees — will also shift from Democratic to Republican control.
In the 65 days between now and then, the outgoing — or “lame duck” — Biden administration will likely take steps to maximize its influence and legacy or preempt some Trump administration priorities. Here are three key areas where that may happen.
Continue reading “Biden Has 65 Days Left in Office. Here’s What He Can Do on Criminal Justice”
A state constitutional amendment on victims’ rights approved by voters in 2016 is not absolute, the South Dakota Supreme Court concluded this week.
The justices decided that South Dakota’s Marsy’s Law amendment does not trump a defendant’s right to a fair trial. Their decision came Thursday in the case of South Dakota vs. Waldner.
Continue reading “High court rules in favor of victim, but says Marsy’s Law is not absolute”