Honorable Jeffrey L. Viken, Esq.

JEFFREY L. VIKEN (Moderator) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Born in Huron, South Dakota, Viken earned a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of South Dakota (Vermillion). He was admitted to the South Dakota bar under the diploma privilege, which, prior to 1983, allowed law graduates in the state to practice law without passing a bar exam.

From 1977 to 1981, Viken served as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota and in 1981 became the Acting United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. From 1981 to 1982, Viken was a partner in the Rapid City, South Dakota law firm of Finch, Viken & Viken, and then from 1981 to 1992, Viken was a partner in the Rapid City firm of Finch, Viken, Viken & Pechota. From 1992 to 2003, Viken served as a partner in the Rapid City law firm of Viken, Viken, Pechota, Leach & Dewell, LLP. 

In 2003, Viken was appointed the federal public defender for the District of South Dakota by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In 2005, the Eighth Circuit appointed Viken the Federal Public Defender for the District of North Dakota and he led a combined-district organization for both North Dakota and South Dakota. 

In President Barack Obama nominated Viken to a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota and he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 29, 2009. He served as Chief Judge from 2013 to 2019.  He assumed senior status on October 1, 2021 and retired from active service on October 1, 2023.