In 1891, the legislature approved $7,000 to build
an east wing addition to the wooden capital in order to provide
office space for the Supreme Court and other state officers. The
two-story, fifty-foot by sixty-foot addition was completed on
October 1, 1891. However, the new addition did not include a
courtroom. Therefore, the Supreme Court held its first session in
the capital in the senate chamber on October 13, 1891, with
sixty-two cases on its calendar. Both the house and senate
chambers were available for official and private use because the
legislature met only once every two years for sixty days.
Frequently, the State Supreme Court was in session downstairs in
the senate chamber while the Federal Court was in session upstairs
in the house chamber. |
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South Dakota's wooden capitol showing the new sixty-foot east
wing addition on the right side of the photograph. The South Dakota Supreme
Court moved into the addition in 1891 and remained there until completion of the
new capitol in 1910. |
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| New Stone Capitol Becomes Third Location of
Supreme Court |
After the capital fights of 1889, 1890, and 1904, all won by
Pierre, the 1905 legislature authorized the construction of a new stone capitol.
The capitol would be paid for by monies obtained from the sale of public lands
owned by the state. The legislature, believing these lands would sell slowly,
decided that the east wing of the capitol should be built first and house the
Supreme Court. The east wing foundation was finished in the fall of 1905. The
entire capitol was completed in 1910. |
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Capitol building in construction. In the background is east wing
with exposed area showing site of current courtroom, law library, and justices'
apartments. |
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Newly completed Supreme Court Chamber in the new capital before
placement of mural. The room was decorated in browns, tans, and golds, The
furniture consisted of polished mahogany with matching draperies and
carpet. |
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Charles Halloway, a young artist from Chicago, painted the mural
"Gate of Justice" for the Supreme Court Chamber. He also painted the murals for
the house and senate chambers. |
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South Dakota's new capitol was completed and dedicated in June
of 1910. |
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| Remodeling and Restoration of the Supreme Court Chamber |
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To obtain a modern look, the Supreme Court Chamber was remodeled
in 1952. The ceilings were lowered with acoustical tile, the walls were covered
with paneling, and fluorescent lights were installed. |
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In 1979, the Supreme Court Chamber was restored by removing the
acoustical tile and paneling, and by repainting and refinishing all the walls
and furniture to match the original color and design as closely as possible.
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