---
title: "Susan M. Sabers | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-m-sabers-sd-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Susan M. Sabers

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, serving since her 2012 appointment by Governor Dennis Daugaard
- Circuit Judge, Second Judicial Circuit Lincoln & Minnehaha Sioux Falls - appointed 2012 by Gov Daugaard filling Kathleen Caldwell
- Attorney: Began private practice in Sioux Falls in 1997; partner at Fuller & Sabers from 2006
- She clerked for Eighth Circuit Judge C. Arlen Beam — 1995–1997, practiced in Sioux Falls from 1997, and became a Fuller & Sabers partner in 2006
- Law Clerk 8th Circuit Hon C Arlen Beam 1995-1997
- Circuit Judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota, which covers Lincoln and Minnehaha counties

### Education

- Thomas political science BA in 1992 and University of South Dakota JD in 1995, serving as law review editor and Thomas Sterling Honor Graduate

### Additional information

- Appointed to the Second Judicial Circuit by Governor Dennis Daugaard on October 30, 2012, with service effective January 2013, succeeding Kathleen Caldwell
- Appointed on October 30, 2012 to succeed the retired Hon
- Private practice Sioux Falls 1997-2012
- Past President Second Circuit Bar 2001-2002
- Chairman SD Board Bar Examiners
- Hearing examiner SD Board Regents & Medical Osteopathic
- Civil Pattern Jury Instruction Committee
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- She chaired the Board of Bar Examiners, led the Second Circuit Bar Association, and held the role of hearing examiner for the Board of Regents and medical/osteopathic examiners

## 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 Legislative Manual 2021](https://sdsos.gov/general-information/assets/bluebook-docs/2021BlueBook.pdf)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://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 Legislative Manual 2021](https://sdsos.gov/general-information/assets/bluebook-docs/2021BlueBook.pdf)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://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 Legislative Manual 2021](https://sdsos.gov/general-information/assets/bluebook-docs/2021BlueBook.pdf)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-judicial-circuit/)
- [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Susan_Sabers)
- [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/susan-m-sabers-6a4b102d-7d51-429b-933a-86fb9d43338a)
- [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/susan-m-sabers/)
- [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 Legislative Manual 2021](https://sdsos.gov/general-information/assets/bluebook-docs/2021BlueBook.pdf)
- [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](http://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-second-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.