At the discretion of the court, whenever the law requires a defendant in a misdemeanor or felony criminal case to appear before a judge or magistrate for an initial or subsequent appearance, bail, arraignment, or other pre-trial proceeding, the proceeding may be conducted by interactive audiovisual device, in which case the defendant shall not be required to be physically brought before the judge or magistrate.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 15-5A-3

  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Source: SL 2007, ch 301 (Supreme Court Rule 06-69), eff. Jan. 1, 2007.