Hughes County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Hughes County, with a population of approximately 17,800, is the 12th most populous county in South Dakota. It is a part of the Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area, and Pierre serves as both its county seat and largest city. Circuit Court and Magistrate Court make up the Hughes County trial court system. All civil and criminal proceedings fall under the overall jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, which also usually handles cases that fall outside the purview of the Magistrate Court. Certain categories of criminal and civil cases are within the limited jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court.

Hughes County Circuit Court handles the most serious matters. This includes all felonies, some misdemeanors, and some violations of local ordinances. They also tackle civil matters involving claims exceeding $12,000, domestic relations issues like divorce, and child custody, as well as juvenile cases, wills and estates, and equity disputes like property boundaries and real estate titles. The Hughes County Magistrate Court handles less serious matters. They conduct preliminary hearings for all criminal cases, misdemeanor trials, and most violations of local ordinances. They also have some authority over accepting pleas, handling forfeited bonds, and committing individuals to jail in certain situations. On the civil side, the Magistrate Court handles most general claims under $12,000, including debt, damages, and property disputes. It also has a Small Claims Division for even smaller claims under the same limit. Additionally, the Magistrate Court can issue temporary abuse protection orders.

With over 3,775 cases handled annually, the Hughes County court system provides valuable insights into the development of the county's legal system. Having recorded 22,207 crimes committed per 100,000 people, the county benefits from having an effective legal system. The Hughes County Clerk of Court is in charge of keeping track of court records in the county. Most court records are available for public viewing at each courtroom via kiosk terminals. Get in touch with the Clerk of Court office to look for older case files that might not have been scanned into UJS' system. While court documents cannot be viewed online, the public can use the eCourts platform to view summary information about cases.

In summary, the Hughes County court system is an essential component of the county government, dedicated to maintaining justice in a variety of legal processes. The Circuit Court and Magistrate Court, which make up the county's robust judicial system, can handle a wide range of matters.