Janine Kern (’85) Appointed to South Dakota Supreme Court

Janine Kern (’85) has been appointed a justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court, replacing retiring justice John K. Konenkamp. She had previously served for 18 years as a judge in the state's 7th Judicial Circuit. In announcing Kern's appointment to the five-justice panel, Gov. Dennis Daugaard praised her "rigorous legal mind, her conscientious work ethic, and her commitment to fairness and equal justice under the law." Kern will be the 49th justice in the history of South Dakota's high court, and the third female justice.

Born and raised in the small town of Lake Andes, S.D., Kern earned her undergraduate degree at Arizona State University in 1982. After graduating from the Law School, Kern spent 11 years working as an assistant attorney general in the South Dakota state capital, Pierre. During that time, she served in the appellate division, instituted the statewide drug prosecution program, and directed the office's litigation division. Kern has also served on the state advisory board of the Council of Juvenile Services, the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, the state Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse advisory committee, and the Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee.

"I am deeply grateful to Gov. Daugaard for entrusting me with this responsibility," said Kern. "I will do everything I can to live up to the high standards set by my friend and mentor, Justice John Konenkamp, who has served the people of this state so well. I am also grateful to my husband, Greg Biegler, for his support and sacrifices that have allowed me to pursue a demanding but fulfilling career."