Governor Kristi Noem has appointed Judge Abigail Howard to the Third Judicial Circuit Court. This announcement was made on December 13, 2024.
"In addition to Abbey’s current experience on the bench, she was raised with service to others as a foundational principle," stated Governor Noem. "I am confident she will continue to serve the people in her circuit and our state with compassion, fairness and excellence."
Judge Howard hails from Volga and completed her undergraduate studies at South Dakota State University, graduating magna cum laude. She earned her juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, where she contributed as an editor for the South Dakota Law Review.
Her legal career began at Fite & Pierce Law Office in Brookings. In 2013, she joined the Brookings County State’s Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor and was elected as Brookings County State’s Attorney in 2016. She became a magistrate judge in the Third Judicial Circuit in 2018, handling cases across several counties including Brookings, Beadle, Codington, Lake, and Moody.
“I’m honored and humbled by the faith placed in me by the Governor. I look forward to continue serving the citizens of the Third Circuit in this new capacity,” expressed Judge Howard.
The Third Judicial Circuit covers multiple counties: Beadle, Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner, Moody and Sanborn.
Judge Howard resides in Brookings with her husband Lance—who is a senior wealth management officer at First Bank & Trust—and their three children.