--- title: "Mandi A. Mowery | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mandi-a-mowery-sd-trial" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Mandi A. Mowery 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 2nd Judicial Circuit, appointed by Governor Kristi Noem in July 2024 - Before becoming a judge, Mowery had a 17-year career as a prosecutor with the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office (2006–2024). - Minnehaha County State's Attorney's Office, prosecutor for approximately 17 years; felony and narcotics prosecution; team lead - In her own words, Mowery has stated that she strives to serve South Dakota “with fairness and justice” and to uphold the laws as set forth by the people of the state ### Education ### Additional information - Mandi A. Mowery was announced as Governor Kristi Noem’s appointee to South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit on July 30, 2024. - She returned to South Dakota in 2006 and joined the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office, initially handling misdemeanors and later felony narcotics prosecutions. - At appointment she was a felony team lead with roughly seventeen years of prosecutorial service. - Began handling misdemeanor cases, later moving to the felony prosecution division, where she focused on narcotics cases and held the role of a felony division team lead - U; n; i; v; e; r; s; i; t; y;; o; f; - S; o; u; t; h; - D; a; k; o; t; a;,;; u; n; d; e; r; g; r; a; d; u; a; t; e;; d; e; g; r; e; e;,;; m; a; g; n; a;; c; u; m;; l; a; u; d; e - B; a; y; l; o; r; - S; c; h; o; o; l;; o; f; - L; a; w;,; - J;. - Raised on a family ranch, she graduated as valedictorian at New Underwood High School, earned magna cum laude honors at the University of South Dakota and a Baylor law degree. - Interests include running and reading. ## 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/) - [Gov. Noem Appoints Judges to Second Judicial Circuit Court](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/governor-noem-appoints-three-judges-to-second-judicial-circuit-court/) - [Gov. Noem Appoints Judges to Second Judicial Circuit Court](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/governor-noem-appoints-three-judges-to-second-judicial-circuit-court/) - [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. Noem Appoints Judges to Second Judicial Circuit Court](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/governor-noem-appoints-three-judges-to-second-judicial-circuit-court/) - [news.sd.gov](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=c2dfbddc97bf06107fc1b480f053afdb) - [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/new-circuit-court-judge-to-be-sworn-into-office-in-sioux-falls-9132024/) - [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/mandi-a-mowery/) - [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. Noem Appoints Judges to Second Judicial Circuit Court](https://ujs.sd.gov/ujs-news/governor-noem-appoints-three-judges-to-second-judicial-circuit-court/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mandi-a-mowery-sd-trial", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mandi-a-mowery-sd-trial", "name": "Mandi A. Mowery | KnowJudges", "description": "Mandi A. Mowery, South Dakota Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mandi-a-mowery-sd-trial#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mandi-a-mowery-sd-trial#judge", "name": "Mandi A. 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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.