---
title: "Tami Bern | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tami-bern-sd-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Tami Bern

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

- Election History: Ran for re‐election as Circuit Judge, Circuit 1, Position F in the 2022 South Dakota General Election
- Judge Tami A. Bern is a Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s First Judicial Circuit, appointed in 2017, with a background in private practice and as Clay County State’s Attorney
- Magistrate Judge, First Judicial Circuit, 2007-2017
- Prior Role: held the role of Magistrate Judge for the First Judicial Circuit from March 23, 2007, appointed by Presiding Judge Art Rusch
- She earlier held the role of First Circuit magistrate, appointed by Presiding Judge Art Rusch on March 23, 2007, succeeding Mary Dell Cody
- Clay County State's Attorney, 1997-2007
- Her earlier career encompassed private practice, Clay County deputy state’s attorney and Clay County state’s attorney

### Education

- Both an undergraduate degree and JD at the University of South Dakota.

### Additional information

- She was a 2022 judicial reelection candidate.
- Appointment: Appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard on July 24, 2017 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Glen Eng; sworn in August 25, 2017
- Tami A. Bern was appointed to the First Judicial Circuit by Governor Dennis Daugaard on August 25, 2017, succeeding Glen Eng.
- Private practice, 1993-1997
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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/)
- [Gov. Daugaard Appoints Bern As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=bd0fdd8c1b5c69506e4aa97ae54bcbda)
- [Gov. Daugaard Appoints Bern As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=bd0fdd8c1b5c69506e4aa97ae54bcbda)
- [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. Daugaard Appoints Bern As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=bd0fdd8c1b5c69506e4aa97ae54bcbda)
- [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Tami_Bern)
- [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/tami-bern/)
- [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/tami-a-bern)
- [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. Daugaard Appoints Bern As First Circuit Judge](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=bd0fdd8c1b5c69506e4aa97ae54bcbda)

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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.