"Gov. Mike Rounds is on target by using qualification as the prime standard for judicial nominations. However, the governor also must be vigilant so that standard alone doesn't become a de facto escape clause keeping South Dakota from making substantial change.

For South Dakota, a state where more than 8 percent of its population in Native American, that means the place for us to start is encouraging a higher percentage of Native Americans to consider entering the legal field.

And the state's law school can't carry the torch alone, either. The state's bar association needs to be a proactive force as well as other Native American grass-roots groups that hold heavy influence over young people.

Will it be hard? Certainly.

But without this kind of concerted, long-term effort to bring more Native Americans into the legal field, the impact on the state's judi- ciary means that it'll remain almost all white for years to come.

And that's not acceptable."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Judiciary should reflect state's population (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 2/10)

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South Dakota governor not eager for Indian judge (2/9)