The accused in any proceeding pursuant to § 35-10-25 may plead in the same manner as to an information or indictment, insofar as the same is applicable. Evidence may be oral or in the form of affidavits, or both. The court may require the defendant to answer interrogatories, either written or oral. The defendant need not necessarily be discharged upon the defendant’s denial of the facts stated in the moving papers.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 35-10-26

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
  • written: include typewriting and typewritten, printing and printed, except in the case of signatures, and where the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2

Source: SL 1939, ch 15, § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 5.0114-4; SL 2008, ch 37, § 207.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 10 Contents