Steven R. Jensen

Steven R. Jensen (born March 18, 1963) is the chief justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court since 2021. He was appointed as an associate justice by Governor Dennis Daugaard in 2017. He became the 50th member of the court, succeeding Justice Lori S. Wilbur. Following his graduation from Wakonda High School. Jensen attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from there in 1985. During the summer of 1984, he worked as an intern for U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley. During his internship with Grassley, Jensen decided to switch his career path from farming to law.

Career Jensen served as a law clerk for Associate Justice Richard W. Sabers of the South Dakota Supreme Court. In 1989, he started working at the Crary Huff Law Firm in Sioux City, Iowa. Jensen practiced for 14 years in both South Dakota and Iowa, handling civil litigation.

As chief justice, Jensen has secured pay raises for court staff, including judges, and improved security practices at the state's 66 county courthouses. Jensen also established an Indigent Defense task force to improve the state public defense practices.

Jensen's professional affiliations include his service as chairman of the Unified Judicial System’s Presiding Judges Council and president of the South Dakota Judges Association.

Miller v Barnett On April 28, 2021, the South Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments in Miller v Barnett, challenging Amendment A passed in the state in 2020, which legalized recreational and medical marijuana. The challengers argued that the Amendment violated the state's single-subject ballot measure provision and was a "revision" (which would require a constitutional convention) rather than an amendment.

Jensen wrote the 4-1 majority opinion for the court striking down Amendment A. In the opinion, he stated, "It is clear that Amendment A contains provisions embracing at least three separate subjects, each with distinct objects or purposes," referring to the topics of recreational marijuana, medical marijuana and hemp.

Personal life Jensen married Sue Nelson (sister of former South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson) in 1990. They have one daughter, Rachel; two sons, Ryan and Andrew; and a son-in-law, Blake Roberts.