If a state’s attorney or a sheriff or a coroner has reason to believe that a deceased person may have died in his or her jurisdiction by unlawful means, the state’s attorney, sheriff, or coroner may order and direct a physician or surgeon to perform an autopsy. If in the public interest, the county coroner may order an autopsy on those deaths falling within the county coroner’s jurisdiction mentioned in subdivisions 23-14-18(1) to (5), inclusive.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23-14-9.1

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2

Source: SL 1951, ch 188, § 1; SDC Supp 1960, § 34.1015; SL 1961, ch 184, § 1; SL 1967, ch 103, § 2; SDCL § 23-13-8; SL 1978, ch 171, § 11; SL 1985, ch 191, § 4; SL 2009, ch 123, § 1.