Abigail A. Howard at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- South Dakota · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Abigail A. Howard
Circuit Judge · South Dakota Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Abigail (Abbey) Howard is a circuit judge for the Third Judicial Circuit in South Dakota, appointed by Governor Kristi Noem in December 2024, with a career that includes prosecutorial service, magistrate judge work, and legal leadership
- Magistrate Judge, Third Judicial Circuit, appointed 2018
- Began practice at Fite & Pierce in Brookings, joined Brookings County State’s Attorney’s Office as prosecutor in 2013, was elected county state’s attorney in 2016, and became a Third Circuit magistrate in 2018
- Current Judicial Role: Circuit Judge, Third Judicial Circuit
Education
- University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law J.D., serving as a South Dakota Law Review editor.
Additional information
- Abigail (Abbey) Howard received an appointment from Governor Kristi Noem to South Dakota’s Third Judicial Circuit Court in the December 13, 2024 announcement.
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- Judge Howard expressed honor and humility at the appointment, stating she looks forward to continuing service to the citizens of the Third Circuit
- As magistrate she handled courts in Brookings, Beadle, Codington, Lake and Moody counties.
- The circuit encompasses Beadle, Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner, Moody and Sanborn counties.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Electronic Devices And Media
Statewide
South Dakota's published statewide guidance permits expanded media coverage in circuit and magistrate proceedings only when the parties and court agree, and the court may modify the coverage at any time.
Expanded media coverage (audio, video and still photos) is allowed when the parties of the case and the court all agree that such coverage should be permitted.South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage
South Dakota Circuit Court; South Dakota 3rd Judicial Circuit Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-27Sources
Identity source checked October 2, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 2, 2026.
South Dakota Unified Judicial System Directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View South Dakota Unified Judicial System Directory ↗South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage ↗Governor Noem Appoints Abigail Howard to Third Judicial Circuit Court
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Governor Noem Appoints Abigail Howard to Third Judicial Circuit Court ↗Governor Noem Appoints Abigail Howard to Third Judicial Circuit Court
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Governor Noem Appoints Abigail Howard to Third Judicial Circuit Court ↗South Dakota Unified Judicial System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View South Dakota Unified Judicial System official judicial roster ↗South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage ↗Governor Noem Appoints Abigail Howard to Third Judicial Circuit Court
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Governor Noem Appoints Abigail Howard to Third Judicial Circuit Court ↗