State Historical Society completes new exhibit about Supreme Court in Capitol

CONTACT:  Jeff Mammenga, Media Coordinator, (605) 773-6000, Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us

PIERRE, S.D. -- Ever heard of Philemon Bliss, Joseph L. Williams and George P. Williston?

While their names may not be well known today, these men had an important role in South Dakota’s history. President Lincoln appointed them as the first judges of the Supreme Court of Dakota Territory in 1861.

State Capitol visitors can now see photographs of the first judges, along with objects from the Supreme Court’s history and contemporary materials from today’s court in a new exhibit created by the South Dakota State Historical Society. The display is located in the Capitol’s east wing, immediately adjacent to the court chamber.

The Supreme Court is the state's highest court and is comprised of a chief justice and four associate justices. In addition to its judicial functions, the Supreme Court oversees the statewide Unified Judicial System, with the chief justice serving as system administrator.

When the Capitol was completed in 1910, the east wing became the home of the South Dakota Supreme Court. The east wing provided space for administrative offices, the court chamber, law library and offices for the five justices. Members of the court were called “judges” until 1972, when the title was changed to “justice.”

"The story of the South Dakota Supreme Court began in 1861 with the creation of the Dakota Territory. Since that time, the Court has been called upon to consider significant issues of the day. We continue to do so,” said Chief Justice David Gilbertson.

“The new exhibit, as created by the State Historical Society, expertly portrays the history and evolution of our work from the first beginnings in the 1860's, with horse and buggy, to the computer age we now face,” Gilbertson said. “The justices invite the public to view this exhibit when they visit the Capitol. The justices would also like to extend their appreciation to the professionals of the State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center for their fine work on this project."

“Since before statehood in 1889, the Supreme Court has been making decisions that affect our state’s history,” said Jay D. Vogt, director of the State Historical Society. “Our job is to document that history, and we are pleased to be able to publicly tell the impressive story of the Supreme Court.”

The State Capitol is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. CDT and weekends and holidays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Museum hours for the Cultural Heritage Center, located northeast of the Capitol at 900 Governors Drive, are Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. CDT and Sundays and holidays from 1-4:30 p.m.