---
title: "David E. Gilbertson | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-e-gilbertson-5684"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# David E. Gilbertson

Supreme Court of South Dakota · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of South Dakota
- State: South Dakota
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- South Dakota Supreme Court from 1995 and as chief justice from 2001 until his retirement in January 2021
- Selected repeatedly as chief justice in 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017
- In 2009 Gilbertson was reelected to his third 4-year term as chief justice
- When Chief Justice Robert A. Miller retired in 2001, Gilbertson was elected chief justice of the court
- Janklow appointed Gilbertson an Associate Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court April 3, 1995
- In 1986 Governor Bill Janklow appointed him circuit judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit
- Practiced in Sisseton and held a position as a Roberts County deputy state’s attorney and city attorney before appointment to the Fifth Judicial Circuit in 1986.
- Gilbertson established a private practice in Sisseton, South Dakota and simultaneously held the role of Roberts County Deputy State's Attorney and City Attorney for Sisseton

### Education

- South Dakota State University — B.A.
- University of South Dakota — J.D.

### Additional information

- His Supreme Court appointment was April 3, 1995; retention elections followed in 1998, 2006 and 2014.
- Date of birth: 1949-10-29
- See more

## 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: courtwide

South Dakota Supreme Court courtroom protocol instructs visitors not to bring cameras or recording equipment into the courtroom.

Evidence excerpt: Do not bring food, drinks, cameras or recording equipment into the courtroom.

[South Dakota Supreme Court Courtroom Protocol](https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/courtroom-protocol/)
Source checked: 2026-07-27


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://ujs.sd.gov/media/ge2bfzs4/supreme-court-photographic-history.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/media/ge2bfzs4/supreme-court-photographic-history.pdf)
- [Supreme Court of South Dakota current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5684/david-e-gilbertson/)
- [South Dakota Supreme Court Courtroom Protocol](https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/courtroom-protocol/)
- [South Dakota Supreme Court Courtroom Protocol](https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/courtroom-protocol/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5684/david-e-gilbertson/)
- [David Gilbertson](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Gilbertson)
- [South Dakota Supreme Court Courtroom Protocol](https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/courtroom-protocol/)
- [nativeede.wixsite.com](https://nativeede.wixsite.com/judicialvoices/gilbertson)
- [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gilbertson)
- [South Dakota Supreme Court Courtroom Protocol](https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/courtroom-protocol/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-e-gilbertson-5684",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-e-gilbertson-5684",
      "name": "David E. Gilbertson | KnowJudges",
      "description": "David E. Gilbertson, Supreme Court of South Dakota. 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/david-e-gilbertson-5684#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-e-gilbertson-5684#judge",
      "name": "David E. Gilbertson",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-e-gilbertson-5684",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Supreme Court of South Dakota"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://ujs.sd.gov/media/ge2bfzs4/supreme-court-photographic-history.pdf",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5684/david-e-gilbertson/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1949-10-29",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "South Dakota State University"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of South Dakota"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "David E. Gilbertson",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-e-gilbertson-5684"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```