---
title: "John R. Pekas | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-r-pekas-sd-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# John R. Pekas

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 for South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit, serving since his 2014 election and covering Lincoln and Minnehaha counties
- Circuit Judge, Second Judicial Circuit, elected 2014
- Minnehaha County Commissioner, 2001-2014
- Position: Circuit Judge, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota

### Education


### Additional information

- John R. Pekas won election to South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit on November 4, 2014.
- Private practice
- Instructor, National American University
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- Before judicial service he maintained a solo practice in Sioux Falls and taught at National American University
- handling criminal, family, collections and personal-injury matters.

## 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 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/)
- [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/)
- [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/)
- [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Pekas)
- [www.martindale.com](https://www.martindale.com/attorney/john-r-pekas-1595859/)
- [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/john-r-pekas/)
- [www.argusleader.com](https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/29/election-three-vie-circuit-court-primary/9707517/)
- [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/)

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## Additional court service

- [South Dakota 2nd Judicial Circuit Court](https://knowjudges.com/kyj/court/sd/south-dakota-2nd-judicial-circuit-court) — Circuit Judge


## 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.