• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- The South Dakota Supreme Court announced Wednesday that the justices have elected David Gilbertson to an unprecedented fourth term as chief justice of the state's highest court.
• Gilbertson, 63, said he had considered stepping down so another justice could take over the court's administrative duties, but he decided to seek a new four-year term to oversee the implementation of many projects that have just begun.
• He noted that the South Dakota Legislature a few months ago passed a new law that makes sweeping changes in the criminal justice system in an attempt to treat more nonviolent offenders outside prison walls through intensive probation, parole and other programs. Gilbertson, who played a role in putting together the new programs, said the court system has been working for years to expand special courts for drug and alcohol offenders, allow cameras in courtrooms and encourage more lawyers to practice in rural areas.
• He said the law overhauling the criminal justice system sets goals that the court system and other agencies must now put into practice.
• "I was raised by my parents to finish what I started," Gilbertson said.
• Greg Sattizahn, legal counsel for the court system, said the other four justices voted unanimously to give Gilbertson a new term as chief justice.
• "This election makes Chief Justice Gilbertson the first chief justice that we've had in the history of the state to be elected to four terms," Sattizahn said.
• The chief justice oversees administrative duties for the court system. Gilbertson said the court system has 535 employees and an annual budget of $38 million, and the chief justice also has to handle ceremonial tasks, personnel issues and public speaking appearances.
• Gilbertson, of Lake City, became a circuit judge in 1986 and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1995. He became chief justice in 2001 and was re-elected to the post in 2005 and 2009.
• "I can't think of anything else in life I would rather do," Gilbertson said.
• Gilbertson said the court in the past 12 years has survived a 10 percent budget cut in 2011 without laying off any employees or closing any trial-level courts. The court system also has worked to create alcohol and drug courts and now wants to expand them statewide to every city large enough to support them. In addition, cameras are now allowed in Supreme Court hearings and in some circuit court proceed

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