High Court Affirms Jerauld State’s Attorney Win

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court says the man who won the state's attorney's race in Jerauld County last November is the rightful holder of the office, even though he simultaneously ran for the position in a neighboring county.

Dedrich Koch beat Casey Bridgman in the Republican primary in June 2012 and ran unopposed in November's general election. He was sworn into office but Bridgman refused to step down, saying Koch had illegally run for office in both Jerauld County and Buffalo County.

The high court ruled Wednesday that Koch had been a candidate in Jerauld County first and was properly elected.

The justices said they did not have to address Bridgeman's claim of whether Koch was improperly running in Buffalo County because his case focused on the Jerauld position.

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