Chad R. Callahan at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- South Dakota · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Chad R. Callahan
Circuit Judge · South Dakota Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Circuit Judge, Fourth Judicial Circuit Deadwood - appointed April 24 2026 by Gov Rhoden replacing Mike Day, previously Magistrate
- Described as South Dakota Fourth Circuit judge appointed April 24, 2026 by Governor Larry Rhoden, succeeding retired Michael Day, after service as that circuit’s magistrate
- Private practice PA & Western SD from 2006 Meade County
- Began his legal career in private practice and later held the role of a public defender in Pennington County
- Chad Callahan was recently appointed by Governor Larry Rhoden to serve as a circuit court judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael W. Day
Education
- Upbringing in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh Johnstown political-science bachelor’s (1994), Ohio Northern University J.D. (1998), private practice, Pennington County public defense and assistant attorney general under Marty Jackley (2013–2017)
Additional information
- Magistrate Fourth Circuit Sturgis/Deadwood/Belle Fourche ~2017-2026
- Asst AG SD 2013-2017
- Before his appointment as a circuit judge, Callahan held the role of a magistrate judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, where he gained experience handling a variety of cases and earned endorsements from his peers and the presiding judge
- U; n; i; v; e; r; s; i; t; y;; o; f;
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- J; o; h; n; s; t; o; w; n;
- A;
- P; o; l; i; t; i; c; a; l;
- S; c; i; e; n; c; e;; 1; 9; 9; 4
- O; h; i; o;
- N; o; r; t; h; e; r; n;
- D;; 1; 9; 9; 8
- Judge Callahan grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- The Fourth Circuit covers Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach 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 4th 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 ↗Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv ↗Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv ↗Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv ↗Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv ↗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 ↗Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv ↗Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv
Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 25, 2026
View Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv ↗