On Friday, May 15, 2026, KOTA Territory reported that South Dakota circuit court judge John Fitzgerald is stepping down to pursue the Republican nomination for South Dakota Attorney General.
The current Attorney General, Marty Jackley, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives, creating an open seat. Dusty Johnson, South Dakota’s current U.S. representative, is running for governor.
Fitzgerald resides in St. Onge and has 42 years of experience as a state’s attorney in Butte and Lawrence counties. In November 2022, he was elected as a Fourth Circuit Court judge, serving eight northwestern South Dakota counties.
According to a press release, Fitzgerald has built a reputation for being tough on violent offenders and committed to protecting victims and property rights. Fitzgerald stated that serving as a circuit judge has given him an even deeper appreciation for the rule of law, the Bill of Rights, and the importance of equal justice.
Fitzgerald is an alumnus of Black Hills State University in Spearfish and the University of South Dakota law school. His wife, Mary, is a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Other Republicans seeking the nomination include McPherson County State’s Attorney Austin Hoffman and Lance Russell, the state’s attorney for Fall River and Oglala counties and a former legislator.
The Republican nominee will be chosen by a vote of state convention delegates at the South Dakota Republican State Convention, scheduled for June 25-27 at The Monument in Rapid City.
Source: KOTA Territory
