--- title: "Chris S. Giles | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Chris S. Giles South Dakota Circuit Court · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: South Dakota Circuit Court - State: South Dakota - Role: Circuit Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judicial Service: Circuit Judge, First Judicial Circuit (2017–present) Magistrate Judge, Third Judicial Circuit (2015–2017) - Circuit Judge, First Judicial Circuit Position A Salem - appointed July 25 2017 by Gov Daugaard replacing Bjorkman - Described as South Dakota First Circuit judge appointed July 25, 2017 by Governor Dennis Daugaard, succeeding Timothy Bjorkman, after Third Circuit magistrate service (2015–2017). - Lake County State's Attorney 1997-2005 & 2013-2015 - Local Government: Lake County Commissioner (2008–2013) Lake County State Attorney (1997–2005) - Private practice Madison 1992-1998 & 2009-2013 ### Education - Dakota State University bachelor’s (1989), University of South Dakota J.D. (1992), private practice (1992–1998), Lake County state’s attorney (1997–2005), Dakota State University Foundation CEO (2005–2009), Lake County commissioner (2009–2013), and 2022 reelection candidacy. ### Additional information - He was re‐elected in the 2022 South Dakota General Election for the position. - Appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard on July 25, 2017, to replace retired Judge Timothy Bjorkman. - DSU Foundation CEO 2005-2009 - Brookings Drug Court - D; a; k; o; t; a; - B; a; c; h; e; l; o; r; '; s;; 1; 9; 8; 9 - U; n; i; v; e; r; s; i; t; y;; o; f; - S; o; u; t; h; - S; c; h; o; o; l;; o; f; - L; a; w; - J - D;; 1; 9; 9; 2 ## 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 ### electronic devices and media Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [Official roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/first-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-first-judicial-circuit/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System Directory](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) - [South Dakota Supreme Court Calendar, March 22, 2010](https://ujs.sd.gov/media/tphlfz4p/25379cal.pdf) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0032897) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://sdjudicial.com/uploads/firstcircuit/CircuitJudgeHistory.pdf) - [South Dakota Supreme Court Calendar, March 22, 2010](https://ujs.sd.gov/media/tphlfz4p/25379cal.pdf) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0032897) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://sdjudicial.com/uploads/firstcircuit/CircuitJudgeHistory.pdf) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System official judicial roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) - [South Dakota Supreme Court Calendar, March 22, 2010](https://ujs.sd.gov/media/tphlfz4p/25379cal.pdf) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0032897) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://sdjudicial.com/uploads/firstcircuit/CircuitJudgeHistory.pdf) - [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/chris-s-giles/) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Giles) - [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/chris-s-giles) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System official judicial roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) - [South Dakota Supreme Court Calendar, March 22, 2010](https://ujs.sd.gov/media/tphlfz4p/25379cal.pdf) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0032897) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://sdjudicial.com/uploads/firstcircuit/CircuitJudgeHistory.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial", "name": "Chris S. Giles | KnowJudges", "description": "Chris S. Giles, South Dakota Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial#judge", "name": "Chris S. Giles", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial", "jobTitle": "Circuit Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "South Dakota Circuit Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/" ], "alumniOf": [] }, { "@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": "Chris S. Giles", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-s-giles-sd-trial" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-044935a56b62369d8361ec08) — 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](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/). Collected 2026-07-27.