The Honorable Martin (Marty) Jackley

Marty Jackley was raised in Sturgis, South Dakota and graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering with honors. After receiving his law degree from the University of South Dakota, he served as a clerk for former Chief Federal Judge Richard Battey. Jackley then joined the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson and Ashmore as partner, where he focused on criminal law, civil law, and complex business litigation and transactions. At this time, he served as a special assistant attorney general prosecuting controlled substance felonies. Jackley also served as Chairman of the National Association of Attorneys General and as Chairman of the Western Attorneys General.

Jackley was appointed and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as US Attorney for South Dakota in 2006, and later served as South Dakota’s Attorney General from 2009-2019 before returning to serve in 2023. Jackley received the Prosecutor of the Year award in 2008 for outstanding prosecutorial service, and later received the National Attorney General of the Year award from his fellow Attorneys General.

After serving 10 years his first time as South Dakota Attorney General, Jackley returned to the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson and Ashmore as senior partner. He also served as State’s Attorney for both Jones and Haakon counties, and as a Special Prosecutor for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate during this time. Jackley received the State’s Attorney’s Distinguished Service Award in 2019.

Jackley has served on the Truth Initiative board of directors since 2023.