---
title: "Gregg C. Magera | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gregg-c-magera-sd-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Gregg C. Magera

South Dakota Circuit Court · Presiding Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: South Dakota Circuit Court
- State: South Dakota
- Role: Presiding 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

- In January 2025, Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen reappointed Judge Magera as Presiding Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, following the reselection of Jensen as Chief Justice
- Fifth Judicial Circuit judge in South Dakota, appointed by Governor Kristi Noem in March 2021 and reappointed as presiding judge by Chief Justice Steven Jensen in January 2025
- Law clerk, Fifth Judicial Circuit, 1990-1991
- The Presiding Judge of South Dakota’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, serving 10 counties in northeastern South Dakota, with the main court office in Aberdeen
- His appointment as Presiding Judge was confirmed by the South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice, in line with the state constitution’s provisions for judicial appointments

### Education

- A Yankton native, he obtained a University of South Dakota BA in 1987 and JD in 1990.

### Additional information

- He clerked in the Fifth Circuit during 1990–1991, practiced with Siegel, Barnett & Schultz in Aberdeen during 1991–2019, and held the role of a magistrate during 2019–2021.
- Private practice / partner, 1991-2019
- after 28 years of arguing before judges, he transitioned from the appellate bench to presiding over the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
- Judge Magera’s career in the legal field spans decades.
- The circuit’s main office is located in Aberdeen, and the presiding judge coordinates judicial operations, case management, and court services in the region
- As Presiding Judge, Judge Magera oversees the administration of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which handles civil, criminal, and family cases across its 10 counties: Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Marshall, McPherson, Roberts, Spink, and Walworth.
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- Interests include tennis, hunting, fishing and playing violin in the Aberdeen University Civic Symphony.

## 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/fifth-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-fifth-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/)
- [Judge Gregg C. Magera Reappointed as Presiding Judge of Fifth Judicial Circuit](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/judge-gregg-c-magera-reappointed-as-presiding-judge-of-fifth-judicial-circuit/)
- [Judge Gregg C. Magera Reappointed as Presiding Judge of Fifth Judicial Circuit](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/judge-gregg-c-magera-reappointed-as-presiding-judge-of-fifth-judicial-circuit/)
- [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/)
- [Judge Gregg C. Magera Reappointed as Presiding Judge of Fifth Judicial Circuit](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/judge-gregg-c-magera-reappointed-as-presiding-judge-of-fifth-judicial-circuit/)
- [hubcityradio.com](https://hubcityradio.com/governor-noem-appoints-gregg-magera-as-fifth-judicial-circuit-judge/)
- [www.martindale.com](https://www.martindale.com/attorney/gregg-c-magera-1594147/)
- [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/gregg-c-magera/)
- [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/)
- [Judge Gregg C. Magera Reappointed as Presiding Judge of Fifth Judicial Circuit](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/judge-gregg-c-magera-reappointed-as-presiding-judge-of-fifth-judicial-circuit/)

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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.