--- title: "Glen A. Severson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/glen-a-severson-5698" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Glen A. Severson 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 - Glen Arthur Severson served on the South Dakota Supreme Court from 2009 until retirement in June 2018, following sixteen years as a circuit judge - 1993–2009: Appointed by Governor Mickelson as a Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s Second Circuit, later serving as Presiding Judge from 2002 - Governor George Mickelson appointed him to the Second Circuit in 1993; he became presiding judge in 2002 - His early work included Beadle County deputy state’s attorney during 1975–1976, Huron city attorney during 1977–1992, Benson, Wehde, Martin & Severson during 1976–1982, and Fingerson, Severson & Nelson during 1982–1993 ### Education - He later received his J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1975 and was admitted to the South Dakota bar under diploma privilege, without taking the bar exam - He obtained a University of South Dakota political-science BS in 1972 and JD in 1975, with bar admission through diploma privilege. ### Additional information - His 2017 interstate-sales-tax decision formed part of the litigation later addressed by the United States Supreme Court in South Dakota v. - Governor Mike Rounds appointed him to the Supreme Court in 2009, and voters retained him in 2012. - Appointed in 2009 by Republican Governor Mike Rounds to represent the state's Second Supreme Court District. - He served in the South Dakota Air National Guard from 1967 to 1973 while studying at the University of South Dakota, earning a B.S. in Political Science in 1972. - Born in Sioux Falls, he served in the South Dakota Air National Guard during 1967–1973. - Born March 9, 1949. - Severson was born in 1949 into a farming family near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. - Date of birth: 1949-03-09 - South Dakota Supreme Court justice known for his constitutional law work, especially on the Dormant Commerce Clause, and for his 17 years of judicial service in South Dakota ## 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/5698/glen-a-severson/) - [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/5698/glen-a-severson/) - [Glen A. Severson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Glen_A._Severson) - [Wikidata: Glen A. Severson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16885581) - [South Dakota Supreme Court Courtroom Protocol](https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/courtroom-protocol/) - [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_A._Severson) - [nativeede.wixsite.com](https://nativeede.wixsite.com/judicialvoices/severson) - [prabook.com](https://prabook.com/web/glen_arthur.severson/3512701) - [notablepeopleproject.org](https://notablepeopleproject.org/glen_a_severson) - [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/glen-a-severson-5698", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/glen-a-severson-5698", "name": "Glen A. Severson | KnowJudges", "description": "Glen A. Severson, Supreme Court of South Dakota. 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