15-15A-1. Purpose of rule of access to court records.
The purpose of this rule is to provide a comprehensive policy on access to court records. The rule provides for access in a manner that:
(1)Maximizes accessibility to court records,
(2)Supports the role of the judiciary,
(3)Promotes governmental accountability,
(4)Contributes to public safety,
(5)Minimizes risk of injury to individuals,
(6)Protects individual privacy rights and interests,
(7)Protects proprietary business information,
(8)Minimizes reluctance to use the court to resolve disputes,
(9)Makes most effective use of court and clerk of court staff,
(10)Provides excellent customer service, and
(11)Does not unduly burden the ongoing business of the judiciary.
The rule is intended to provide guidance to 1) litigants, 2) those seeking access to court records, and 3) judges, court and clerk of court personnel responding to requests for access.
Source: SL 2004, ch 333 (Supreme Court Rule 04-06), eff. July 1, 2004; SL 2005, ch 291 (Supreme Court Rule 05-05, eff. Feb. 25, 2005.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 15A - Unified Judicial System Court Records Rule
Section 15-15A-1 - Purpose of rule of access to court records.
Section 15-15A-2 - Who has access to court records under the rule.
Section 15-15A-3 - Definition of terms.
Section 15-15A-4 - Applicability of rule.
Section 15-15A-5 - General access rule.
Section 15-15A-6 - Court records that are only publicly available at a court facility.
Section 15-15A-7 - Court records excluded from public access.
Section 15-15A-10 - Procedure for requesting access to confidential financial documents.
Section 15-15A-11 - Requests for bulk distribution of court records.
Section 15-15A-12 - Access to compiled information from court records.
Section 15-15A-13 - Requests to prohibit public access to information in court records.
Section 15-15A-14 - When court records may be accessed.
Section 15-15A-15 - Fees for accessing court records.
Section 15-15A-16 - Access to certain court security information.