Blare serves as law clerk

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Josey Blare, who grew up in the Winner area, is the law clerk for the Sixth Judicial  Circuit. This circuit includes 14 counties in the central part of the state.

Blare just graduated from the USD Law School in May and is spending this year as a law clerk.

She is a 2014 graduate of Winner High School and in 2018 graduated from USD with a double major in international studies and Native American studies.

“I have always been interested in history, reading and writing so going to law school seemed like a natural fit,” she said.

Blare was in Winner on Thursday observing court that was being conducted by Judge Bobbi Rank.

Rank was a law clerk for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 1999. Blare is the first local law student since Rank to hold this position.

“She (Blare) was clearly the most qualified for the job. The secondary benefit is that she is a Winner girl,” said Judge Rank. The judge explained each August she and another  judge go to Vermillion and interview candidates who have applied to be a law clerk.

“Law clerks work behind the scenes and do very important work,” said Rank.

Each year a new law clerk is chosen for the circuit. The term of the contract goes from August to the following August.

Blare helps all the judges with legal research and anything that the judges need.

Rank says the law clerk serve two roles. They are a great help to judges as they can do research to help judge’s write opinions.

The judge added this is a great help to the lawyer because this is the only time in their career they are going to see things from the judge’s side.

“They also get to talk to judges to see what works and what does not work. It is a mutually beneficial agreement,” explained Rank.

Blare says her goal is to travel to all 14 counties in the district before the end of August. Her office is located in Pierre where the majority of the judges in the circuit reside.

Blare noted one of the unique things about the Sixth Circuit is that they handle a lot of administrative appeals. She explained for example that if the Department of Labor issues a decision, that decision can be appealed to the circuit court. In Pierre, there are a lot of administrative appeals more so than any other circuit in the state.

“I am thankful that I get to learn about the law and get to see what the judge’s are thinking. Getting to learn in this environment and experience so many different areas of law is interesting,” she said.

Also, a desire to help others is another reason Blare went to law school.

Blare is able to put all that knowledge she has learned in law school to good use as a law clerk.