--- title: "Sara T. Pokela | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sara-t-pokela-sd-limited" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Sara T. Pokela South Dakota Magistrate Court · Magistrate Judge ## Profile - Court: South Dakota Magistrate Court - State: South Dakota - Role: Magistrate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Magistrate Judge, Second Judicial Circuit Sioux Falls 425 N Dakota Ave - prior Second Circuit DUI Court Judge keynote 2025 Treatment Court Month term expire Aug 15 2024 - Public records and court directories list Judge Pokela’s tenure as Magistrate Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit ### Education ### Additional information - Legal Intern Former Sen Tim Johnson D-SD 05/22/06-08/04/06 - She has been involved in the circuit’s DUI Court and has been recognized in local news for her judicial work - Appointed to the Second Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota, which covers Lincoln and Minnehaha counties. - Magistrate Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota, serving Lincoln and Minnehaha counties, with responsibilities in criminal, civil, and family matters - N; o; t;; d; i; s; c; l; o; s; e; d;; i; n;; p; u; b; l; i; c; - J - S;; s; o; u; r; c; e; s ## 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/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-judicial-circuit/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.legistorm.com/member/55/Former_Sen_Tim_Johnson/8/salary/desc.html) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-judicial-circuit/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.legistorm.com/member/55/Former_Sen_Tim_Johnson/8/salary/desc.html) - [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](http://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-judicial-circuit/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.legistorm.com/member/55/Former_Sen_Tim_Johnson/8/salary/desc.html) - [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](http://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-judicial-circuit/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://www.legistorm.com/member/55/Former_Sen_Tim_Johnson/8/salary/desc.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sara-t-pokela-sd-limited", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sara-t-pokela-sd-limited", "name": "Sara T. 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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.