Jeffrey L. Viken

Jeffrey Lynn Viken (born August 8, 1952) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.

Jeffrey Lynn Viken
Portrait of Jeffrey L. Viken
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
In office January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2019
Preceded by	Karen Schreier
Succeeded by	Roberto Lange
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office September 30, 2009
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Lawrence L. Piersol
Personal details
Born	Jeffrey Lynn Viken August 8, 1952 Huron, South Dakota
Education	University of South Dakota (B.A.) University of South Dakota School of Law (J.D.)

Early life and education

Born in Huron, South Dakota, Viken earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Dakota in May 1974 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in May 1977.[1] He did not take the bar exam as he was admitted to the South Dakota bar under diploma privilege.

Legal career

From 1977–1981, 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.[2] From 1981–1982, Viken was a partner in the Rapid City, South Dakota law firm of Finch, Viken & Viken, and then from 1981–1992, Viken was a partner in the Rapid City firm of Finch, Viken, Viken & Pechota. From 1992–2003, Viken served as a partner in the Rapid City law firm of Viken, Viken, Pechota, Leach & Dewell, LLP.[2][1]

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.[2] In 2005, the Eighth Circuit appointed Viken the Federal Public Defender for the District of North Dakota as well to lead a combined-district organization for both North Dakota and South Dakota.[1]

Federal judicial service

On June 25, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Viken to a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota that was created when Judge Lawrence L. Piersol took senior status.[2] The United States Senate confirmed Viken in a 99–0 vote on September 29, 2009.[3] He received his commission the following day. He served as Chief Judge from 2013–2019.[1]

References

1. "Viken, Jeffrey Lynn – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
2. President Obama Nominates Charlene Honeywell and Jeffrey Viken to Serve on the Federal District Court Bench Archived 2009-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, whitehouse.gov (June 25, 2009).
3. "Congress.gov – Library of Congress". thomas.loc.gov.

External links

• Jeffrey L. Viken at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Jeffrey Viken at Ballotpedia