Marty Jackley

Martin Jacob Jackley was born on October 13, 1970, and is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the Attorney General of South Dakota. He was raised in Sturgis, South Dakota, and has built a distinguished career in law and public service spanning several decades.

Jackley is a member of the Republican Party and has held several significant positions in South Dakota's legal system and national law enforcement circles.

Education

Jackley earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with honors from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He later pursued legal studies and received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota. Following law school, he served as a clerk for Chief Federal Judge Richard Battey.

Political Experience

*U.S. Attorney for South Dakota *

In 2006, Jackley was appointed and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 39th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. He received the Prosecutor of the Year award in 2008 for outstanding prosecutorial service.

*South Dakota Attorney General *

Governor Mike Rounds appointed Jackley as Attorney General in 2009. He was elected to full terms in 2010 and 2014, serving for 10 years. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2015 and received the National Attorney General of the Year award in 2016 from his fellow Attorneys General. He also served as past Chairman of the Western Attorneys General.

*Private Practice and Other Service *

After leaving office in 2019, Jackley returned to the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson and Ashmore as a senior partner, opening a Pierre branch office. He served as State's Attorney for both Jones and Haakon counties and as a Special Prosecutor for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, receiving the State's Attorney's Distinguished Service Award in 2019.

*Return to South Dakota Attorney General *

In 2022, Jackley was elected unopposed for a fourth term as South Dakota Attorney General and assumed office in 2023. He served as Chairman of the Attorney General Alliance for 2023–2024 and was elected Vice Chairman of the National Attorneys General Association in 2024.

Notable Achievement

In 2018, Jackley ran for Governor of South Dakota but lost the Republican primary to Kristi Noem.