Mayor Dave Munson announces today his appointment of Retired South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Robert A. Amundson as City Attorney effective June 3. Amundson will be responsible for the overall operation and functions of the City Attorney’s Office. Current City Attorney Gary Colwill has applied for the vacant position of Human Relations Manager and will assume those duties starting June 3.

Robert A. Amundson was appointed to the South Dakota Supreme Court in 1991 and served until his retirement in 2002. During his tenure as a Supreme Court Justice, he participated in all appeals involving civil, criminal, and administrative appeals and was involved in matters dealing with the administration of the South Dakota judicial system. He was a Trial Judge with the S.D. Unified Judicial System from 1987 to 1991, presiding over trials, motions, and hearings involving civil, criminal, and administrative matters.

He was a Partner in the law firm of Amundson, Fuller & Delaney in Lead from 1974-1987, the firm that served as Counsel for Homestake Gold Mine. In his private practice he represented school boards, city commissions, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Deadwood, local banks, and other private clients. He drafted construction contracts such as the Grizzly Gulch Dam improvement, handled land acquisitions, business issues, and mine safety cases and workers’ compensation cases. As a member of the SD Bar Association, he served as Bar Commissioner and Chairman of the State Disciplinary Board. He was a Partner with Bennett, Mueller & Amundson in Belle Fourche, SD from 1971 to 1974. He was employed by the State of South Dakota from 1965 to 1971 as an Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Highways, and was appointed Securities Commissioner in 1969.

Justice Amundson returned home as a Trial Judge when appointed to the trial bench in Sioux Falls with his wife, Kathy, and their three children, Scott, Beth, and Amy. He graduated from Washington High School in 1956, Augustana College in 1961, and University of SD Law School in 1964.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Amundson continues to be active in the field of law today, serving as Judge appointed by UJS to cases in and around Sioux Falls, sitting as an Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, as a Mediator in civil cases, and teaching courses in criminal justice at the University of Sioux Falls. He states, "I have spent a lot of time in the public sector serving the citizens of this state. I am available to serve my state and community and look forward to any new challenge. I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve this Mayor and the City Council and will do it to the best of my ability."

The Mayor’s appointment of Retired Supreme Court Robert A. Amundson as the City Attorney will be placed on the June 2, 2008, City Council Agenda for advice and consent of the City Council.