---
title: "Patrick T. Smith | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-smith-sd-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Patrick T. Smith

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, First Judicial Circuit Position E Mitchell - appointed Oct 2012 by Gov Daugaard replacing Sean O'Brien, reelected 2014 & 2022
- Davison County State's Attorney 1998-2012 elected
- Practiced privately from 1992 to 1998 and held the role of Davison County state’s attorney from 1998 to 2012
- Private practice Mitchell 1992-1998 civil criminal defense

### Education

- Business degree at the University of South Dakota in 1989 and a JD there in 1992.

### Additional information

- Appointed to the First Judicial Circuit by Governor Dennis Daugaard on October 22, 2012, succeeding Sean O’Brien.
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## 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/first-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-first-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](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/patrick-t-smith-488c4200-4193-4ea4-a9cc-58830b315c2c)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/First_Circuit/Links/Contacts.aspx)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/patrick-t-smith-488c4200-4193-4ea4-a9cc-58830b315c2c)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/First_Circuit/Links/Contacts.aspx)
- [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](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/patrick-t-smith-488c4200-4193-4ea4-a9cc-58830b315c2c)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/First_Circuit/Links/Contacts.aspx)
- [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Patrick_Smith_%28South_Dakota%29)
- [prabook.com](https://prabook.com/web/patrick_t.smith/2627599)
- [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/patrick-t-smith/)
- [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/patrick-t-smith-488c4200-4193-4ea4-a9cc-58830b315c2c)
- [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](https://www.BallotReady.org/people/patrick-t-smith-488c4200-4193-4ea4-a9cc-58830b315c2c)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/First_Circuit/Links/Contacts.aspx)

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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.