Jeffrey L. Viken
Jeffrey Lynn Viken (born August 8, 1952) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. He has been the federal public defender for North Dakota and South Dakota.
Jeffrey Lynn Viken | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Jeffrey L. Viken | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
| In office 2013 – December 31, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Karen Schreier |
| Succeeded by | Roberto Lange |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
| Assumed office September 30, 2009 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Lawrence L. Piersol |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 8, 1952 Huron, South Dakota |
| Education | University of South Dakota (B.A.) University of South Dakota School of Law (J.D.) |
Early life and education
Born in Huron, South Dakota, Viken earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Dakota in May 1974 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in May 1977.[1] He did not take the bar exam as he was admitted to the South Dakota bar under diploma privilege.
Legal career
From 1977 until 1981, Viken served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota and in 1981 became the Acting United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota.[2] From 1981 to 1982, Viken was a partner in the Rapid City, South Dakota law firm of Finch, Viken & Viken, and then from 1981 to 1992, Viken was a partner in the Rapid City firm of Finch, Viken, Viken & Pechota. From 1992 until 2003, Viken served as a partner in the Rapid City law firm of Viken, Viken, Pechota, Leach & Dewell, LLP.[2][1]
In 2003, Viken was appointed federal public defender for the District of South Dakota by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[2] In 2005, the Eighth Circuit appointed Viken the federal public defender for the District of North Dakota as well to lead a combined-district organization for both North Dakota and South Dakota.[1] https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/viken-jeffrey-lynn
Federal judicial service
On June 25, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Viken to a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota that was created when Judge Lawrence L. Piersol took senior status.[2] The United States Senate confirmed Viken in a 99–0 vote on September 29, 2009.[3] He received his commission the following day. He served as Chief Judge from 2013–2019.[1]
References
- "Viken, Jeffrey Lynn – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- President Obama Nominates Charlene Honeywell and Jeffrey Viken to Serve on the Federal District Court Bench Archived 2009-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, whitehouse.gov (June 25, 2009).
- "Congress.gov – Library of Congress". thomas.loc.gov.
External links
- Jeffrey L. Viken at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Jeffrey Viken at Ballotpedia
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lawrence L. Piersol |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota 2009–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Karen Schreier |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota 2013–2019 |
Succeeded by Roberto Lange |