Gov. Dennis Daugaard has appointed Magistrate Judge Gordon D. Swanson as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s Fourth Circuit Court.
Swanson will fill a vacancy created by the upcoming June retirement of Hon. Randall L. Macy. The Fourth Circuit includes Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach counties.
Swanson currently serves as a magistrate judge in the First Circuit, based in Mitchell, and has held that position since 2013. He’s served as the James Valley Drug Court judge for four years. Prior to serving as a judge, he spent seven years in private legal practice in Sturgis. From 2001 to 2003 he served as the Meade County states attorney, and from 2003 to 2013 he was chief deputy states attorney for Minnehaha County.
Swanson is a native of Brandon and a 1984 graduate of South Dakota State University. From 1984 to 1987, he served in the United States Army. Following his military service, Swanson attended the University of South Dakota School of Law, graduating in 1992 as a Thomas Sterling Honor Graduate. Following law school, he clerked for Senior U.S. District Judge Andrew W. Bogue.
Swanson and his wife, Lesli, have three adult children and one grandchild. Swanson will be relocating to the Fourth Circuit to accept the appointment.
Office of the Governor
