South Dakota statute
SDCL § 22-40-17 — Impersonating a judicial official--Misdemeanor
Current through text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session)
Part of Chapter 40: Identity Crimes, South Dakota Codified Laws.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of SDCL § 22-40-17
Statutory text current through the text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of South Dakota.
Any person who, without authority under the U.S. Constitution, federal law, or the constitution or laws of this state, acts as a supreme court justice, a circuit court judge, a magistrate judge, a lay magistrate, a clerk of court or deputy, a juror, or other official holding authority to determine a controversy or adjudicate the rights or interests of any other person, or signs a document in such capacity, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that the judicial office that the person pretended to hold did not exist.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is impersonating a judicial official a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?
Impersonating a judicial official is a Class 1 Misdemeanor in South Dakota under SDCL § 22-40-17.
Which South Dakota statute covers impersonating a judicial official?
Impersonating a judicial official is governed by SDCL § 22-40-17 (Impersonating a judicial official--Misdemeanor).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.