---
title: "Eric C. Johnson | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/eric-c-johnson-sd-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Eric C. Johnson

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

- Circuit Judge, Second Judicial Circuit Sioux Falls - appointed July 30 2024 by Gov Noem elevated from magistrate
- Magistrate judge for the Second Judicial Circuit in South Dakota, appointed in March 2016, with a background in criminal prosecution and appellate clerkship
- Law Clerk Nebraska Court of Appeals Hon Inbody 2003-2007
- Appointed by Circuit Court Judge Larry Long to replace Judge John Hinrichs
- At that time he was the circuit’s magistrate judge and Veterans Treatment Court judge

### Education

- A Vermillion native, he graduated summa cum laude from Augustana College in 1996
- University of Nebraska law degree with high distinction.

### Additional information

- Eric C. Johnson was announced as an appointee to South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit Court by Governor Kristi Noem on July 30, 2024.
- Magistrate Second Circuit 2016-2024
- Deputy State's Attorney Minnehaha 2007-2016
- His work as a magistrate judge reflects his experience in both trial-level criminal cases and appellate review, giving him a broad perspective on the judicial process
- He clerked for Nebraska Court of Appeals Judge Everett Inbody and then worked in the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office before his magistrate appointment.
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- Johnson is listed under the Second Judicial Circuit and is part of the state’s judicial leadership.

## 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/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-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/)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=c2dfbddc97bf06107fc1b480f053afdb)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/eric-c-johnson)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=c2dfbddc97bf06107fc1b480f053afdb)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/eric-c-johnson)
- [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/)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=c2dfbddc97bf06107fc1b480f053afdb)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/eric-c-johnson)
- [news.sd.gov](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=c2dfbddc97bf06107fc1b480f053afdb)
- [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Eric_C._Johnson_%28South_Dakota%29)
- [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/eric-c-johnson/)
- [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/)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=c2dfbddc97bf06107fc1b480f053afdb)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/eric-c-johnson)

## JSON-LD

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      "description": "Eric C. Johnson, South Dakota Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
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      "jobTitle": "Circuit Judge",
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      "sameAs": [
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      "alumniOf": []
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## 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.