PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — All 41 of South Dakota's circuit judges are up for re-election next year — something that happens every eight years.

So to guide candidates through election laws, Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson has appointed a nine-member commission that will also investigate ethics complaints.

The Argus Leader reports the state didn't allow judicial candidates to campaign for office until 2006. That was the first election year after a 2002 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that bans on judicial campaigning were unconstitutional.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More From KXRB