Gov. Daugaard Appoints Bobbi Rank As Sixth Circuit Judge

Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced that he will appoint Bobbi J. Rank as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s Sixth Judicial Circuit.

“I thank Bobbi Rank for taking on this important responsibility,” said Gov. Daugaard. “I have personally witnessed Bobbi’s diligence, work ethic and commitment to the judicial system. I know she will be an excellent circuit judge.”

Rank and her family will relocate to her hometown of Winner to succeed Judge Kathleen Trandahl, who is retiring later this week. The Sixth Circuit includes Bennett, Gregory, Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Todd and Tripp counties.
Rank is the daughter of Bob and Judy Benson of Winner.

“I thank Gov. Daugaard for his confidence in appointing me to this position,” said Rank. “I am thrilled and honored to be given the opportunity to serve as a judge in this circuit and in my home community. I will work hard to serve the people of South Dakota and to administer justice fairly.”

Rank grew up on her family’s ranch south of Winner and is a graduate of Winner High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota and her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

For the past five years, Rank has served as general counsel to the South Dakota Department of Education. Prior to that, she served for eight years as an assistant attorney general in the offices of Attorneys General Larry Long and Marty Jackley. Rank also spent three years in private practice at May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson in Pierre, and was a law clerk for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Rank served as a commissioner of the South Dakota State Bar from 2009 to 2012 and is currently the vice president of the National Council of State Education Agency Attorneys. She served in 2012 on the Governor’s Open Government Task Force. Rank has also been active in Central South Dakota Teen Court, Junior Achievement, the United Way and the South Dakota Discovery Center.

Rank and her husband, Scott, have two children. They are members of the First United Methodist Church.