--- title: "Camela Catherine Theeler | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Camela Catherine Theeler U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota - State: South Dakota - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - U.S. District Judge, District of South Dakota, 2024-present - Camela Catherine Theeler (née Clark, born 1975 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) is an American judge serving on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota since June 4, 2024 - 2018–2024: Judge, Second Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota, appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard - Assistant U.S. attorney, Civil Division, District of South Dakota, 2012-2018; deputy chief, Civil Division, 2016-2018 - 2002–2003: Associate, Morgan Theeler Law Firm, L.L.P., Mitchell, SD - Law clerk, South Dakota Circuit Court, First Judicial Circuit, 2001-2002 ### Education - University of South Dakota School of Law (now Knudson School of Law) — J.D. (2000) - University of South Dakota — B.A. (1998) ### Additional information - Private practice, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 2003-2012 - Private practice, Mitchell, South Dakota, 2001, 2002-2003 - Business law instructor, Dakota Wesleyan University, 2002 - Date of birth: 1975 - As a U.S. District Judge, Theeler presides over federal cases in the District of South Dakota, including civil, criminal, and constitutional matters - Birth place: Sioux Falls ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [Judge Camela Catherine Theeler](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666) - [Wikidata: Camela C. Theeler](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125955178) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler", "name": "Camela Catherine Theeler | KnowJudges", "description": "Camela Catherine Theeler, U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-08", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler#judge", "name": "Camela Catherine Theeler", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761666" ], "birthDate": "1975", "birthPlace": "Sioux Falls", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of South Dakota" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of South Dakota School of Law (now Knudson School of Law)" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "South Dakota", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/south-dakota" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Camela Catherine Theeler", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/camela-catherine-theeler" } ] } ] } ``` ## Federal civil docket activity Dataset updated through 2026-06-30. | Period | Assigned cases | Terminated cases | Median disposition (months) | Median sample | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | | 1y | 73 | 1 | Not available | 1 | | 2y | 125 | 10 | 5.7 | 10 | | 5y | 130 | 11 | 5.1 | 11 | | 10y | 130 | 11 | 5.1 | 11 | Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/ ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.