Fifth Circuit Judges

Judge Jack R. Von Wald has served the Fifth Circuit since 1994 and has been its presiding judge from 2003 to present. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was Assistant Attorney General from 1967-1968 and then in private practice in Selby from 1968-1994. He is a member of the American Bar Association, S.D. Bar Association, S.D. Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and American Judicature Society. He was also Past President of the S.D. Judges’ Association (2006-2007).

He is a native of Groton and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1965 and received his J.D. in 1967 from USD. He is married to Diana Kay, and they have four children: John R. Von Wald, Monica M. Kuck, Tiffany A. Von Wald, and Thomas J. Von Wald.  

Judge Von Wald’s chambers address is the Brown County Courthouse, 101 SE 1st Ave., Ste 300, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401. He can be reached also at PO Box 1087, Aberdeen, SD 57402 and at phone no. 605-626-2450, or by fax: 605-626-2491. His primary case responsibilities are in Brown, Marshall and McPherson Counties, but like all Judges in the circuit, he continues to hear cases in all counties as assigned.

 

Judge Jon S. Flemmer has been with the Fifth Judicial Circuit since 1991, serving as magistrate judge, and then was elected to the circuit court bench in 1998, taking office as circuit judge in 1999. He graduated with a B.S. degree in 1978 from South Dakota State University and later with a J.D. degree from the University of South Dakota in 1981. Before his appointment to the bench, he was a partner in the law firm of Syvertson and Flemmer in Clark, South Dakota from 1981 to 1991. He was elected Clark County State’s Attorney in 1984 and 1988. He and his wife, Jill, have one son, Seth.

Judge Flemmer’s chambers are located at the Day County Courthouse, 711 West 1st Street, Webster, SD 57274. He can be reached at phone no. 605-345-3771 or fax no. 605-345-3818. His primary judicial workload is comprised of Brown, Day and Roberts Counties, and continues to hear cases in all counties as assigned. 

Judge Scott P. Myren has been on the bench since 1999, serving as magistrate judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and then was appointed to the circuit court bench of the Fifth Circuit in February of 2004. Prior to his appointment he was in private practice in Denver, Colorado, was a Staff Attorney for the South Dakota Supreme Court and Administrative Law Judge for the State of South Dakota. A graduate of Mobridge High School, Judge Myren received his B.S. degree from the University of South Dakota in 1985 and his J.D. degree from Rutgers University in 1988, where he was an Editor for the Rutgers Law Journal. He and his wife, Dr. Virginia Trexler-Myren, have two daughters: Tessa and Isabel.

Judge Myren’s chambers are located at the Walworth County Courthouse in Selby and his mailing address is PO Box 328, Selby, SD 57472. He can be reached at phone no. 605-649- 7628 or fax no. 605-649-7624. Judge Myren handles the case loads in Walworth, Campbell and Edmunds Counties, in addition to his case load in Brown County.

Judge Portra was sworn in as Circuit Court Judge on August 14, 2006, and will fill the vacancy created by Circuit Judge Larry Lovrien’s retirement. Judge Portra had served as a magistrate judge for the Fifth Circuit since 1999, and prior to that, he worked for the South Dakota Attorney General from 1995-1996 and for the law firm of Richardson, Wyly, Wise, Sauck & Hieb from 1996-1999.

Judge Portra is a 1987 graduate of Aberdeen Central High School and a 1994 graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Law. He and his wife Jamie have two children, Jake and Andie. Judge Portra’s chambers are located at the Brown County Courthouse, and he serves Spink and Faulk Counties in addition to handling a case load in Brown County. He may be contacted at PO Box 1087, Aberdeen, SD 57402-1087 or by phone at 605-626-2450.

Judge Mark A. Anderson was appointed to be the magistrate judge in September, 2006. Previously, he was a member of the McNeary & Anderson law firm from 1991-2006. He served as the city attorney for Aberdeen, SD between 1999-2005. He has been a deputy state’s attorney, serving under the late Gary Gellhaus (1990-1992), Harvey Oliver (1993), and Mark McNeary (2006). He also served as the law clerk for the Fifth Judicial Circuit (1989-1990). Judge Anderson is an Aberdeen native.

He graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1981. He obtained his juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1989. He is married to Ronda Anderson.
Judge Anderson’s chambers are located at the Brown County Courthouse in Aberdeen, and his mailing address is PO Box 1087, Aberdeen, SD 57402. He can be reached at phone no. 605-626-2450 or fax no. 605-626-2491.