--- title: "David Knoff | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-knoff-sd-trial" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # David Knoff 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 - Kennedy Pier Knoff Loftus, LLP, Yankton — partner since graduating law school in 1997 ### Education ### Additional information - He currently holds Position B and is in office through December 31, 2030 - In November 2023 he became chair of the South Dakota Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. - David D. Knoff was appointed to South Dakota’s First Judicial Circuit on February 21, 2018, by Governor Dennis Daugaard, succeeding Steven Jensen. - His civic service included the Yankton City Commission, mayor during 2010–2012, and the Yankton County Board of Mental Illness. - Yankton City Commissioner, from 2007 - Private practice, Kennedy Pier Knoff Loftus, from 1997 - Adjunct instructor in mediation, University of South Dakota School of Law - Practiced with Kennedy, Pier, Knoff & Loftus in Yankton before his appointment. - Circuit Court Judge in South Dakota’s First Judicial Circuit, which covers multiple counties including Yankton, Clay, Turner, and others. - D; a; k; o; t; a; - U; n; i; v; e; r; s; i; t; y;,;; b; a; c; h; e; l; o; r; '; s;; d; e; g; r; e; e - U; n; i; v; e; r; s; i; t; y;; o; f; - S; c; h; o; o; l;; o; f; - L; a; w;,; - J;. - D;.;,;; 1; 9; 9; 7 - His teaching included mediation as a University of South Dakota law-school adjunct. ## 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/) - [Gov. Daugaard Names David Knoff As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=eb30ed041b9c69506e4aa97ae54bcba7) - [Gov. Daugaard Names David Knoff As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=eb30ed041b9c69506e4aa97ae54bcba7) - [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/) - [Gov. Daugaard Names David Knoff As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=eb30ed041b9c69506e4aa97ae54bcba7) - [www.keloland.com](https://www.keloland.com/news/capitol-news-bureau/juvenile-justice-panel-says-sd-is-making-progress/) - [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/david-knoff/) - [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/) - [Gov. Daugaard Names David Knoff As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=eb30ed041b9c69506e4aa97ae54bcba7) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-knoff-sd-trial", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-knoff-sd-trial", "name": "David Knoff | KnowJudges", "description": "David Knoff, South Dakota Circuit Court. 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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.