Marty Jackley

Marty Jackley
Born	Martin Jacob Jackley 13 10, 1970
Birthplace	Sturgis, South Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Known for	Serving multiple terms as South Dakota Attorney General; former U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Education	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (BS) University of South Dakota (JD)
Spouse(s)	Angela Jackley
Children	2

Martin Jacob Jackley (born October 13, 1970) is an American attorney and Republican politician serving as the 33rd Attorney General of South Dakota, a position he has held since January 2023. Jackley previously served as the state's 30th Attorney General from 2009 to 2019, making him one of the longest-serving holders of that office in South Dakota history. Before his tenure as the state's chief legal officer, he served as the 39th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota from 2006 to 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush. Born and raised in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, Jackley built his legal career in western South Dakota before entering public service. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of South Dakota in the 2018 Republican primary, losing to Kristi Noem. After spending several years in private practice, he returned to public office as Attorney General in 2023 after winning the 2022 general election unopposed. In September 2025, Jackley announced his candidacy for South Dakota's lone U.S. House seat, calling for reforms to legal immigration policy. Throughout his career, Jackley has focused on law enforcement, criminal justice, and public safety issues in South Dakota.

Early Life

Martin Jacob Jackley was born on October 13, 1970, in Sturgis, South Dakota, a small city in the western part of the state located in the Black Hills region. He grew up in the Black Hills area, where his family had roots in the ranching community. Kevin Woster of South Dakota Public Broadcasting noted Jackley's connection to ranch life, describing how Jackley participated in activities such as branding time on the ranch, a tradition that reflected his upbringing in rural western South Dakota.

Jackley's background in the Sturgis area and the broader Black Hills community shaped much of his later political identity as a western South Dakota Republican with strong ties to rural and agricultural constituencies. His upbringing in Meade County provided him with a connection to the communities he would later serve as both a federal and state prosecutor.

Education

Jackley pursued his undergraduate education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, located in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently attended the University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion, South Dakota, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His educational background combined technical training from the School of Mines with legal education, providing a foundation for his career in law and public service.

Career

Early Legal Career

After completing his legal education, Jackley established himself as an attorney in western South Dakota. He served as the Jones County State's Attorney, gaining experience in criminal prosecution at the county level. This position provided Jackley with direct experience in the state court system and local law enforcement, serving the rural communities of central South Dakota. His work as a county prosecutor laid the groundwork for his later appointments to federal and state-level legal positions.

United States Attorney (2006–2009)

In 2006, Jackley was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the 39th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. He was a Rapid City-based lawyer at the time of his nomination. Jackley assumed the position in July 2006, succeeding Steven Mullin as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of South Dakota.

As U.S. Attorney, Jackley was responsible for overseeing federal prosecutions throughout the state, including cases on Indian reservations, which constitute a significant portion of South Dakota's land area and present unique jurisdictional challenges for federal law enforcement. He served in the position until September 4, 2009, when he transitioned to the role of South Dakota Attorney General. He was succeeded as U.S. Attorney by Brendan Johnson, the son of former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson.

First Tenure as Attorney General (2009–2019)

On September 4, 2009, Jackley was appointed as the 30th Attorney General of South Dakota, succeeding Larry Long. He was appointed by Governor Mike Rounds and continued to serve under Governor Dennis Daugaard after Daugaard took office in 2011.

Jackley sought election to the position in his own right in 2014, announcing his candidacy for re-election as Attorney General. He had previously discussed a possible run for re-election in late 2013. In the November 2014 general election, Jackley won re-election as part of a broader Republican surge in statewide races across South Dakota.

During his first tenure as Attorney General, Jackley was involved in several significant legal matters. He issued an attorney general's statement regarding South Dakota Initiated Measure 24, the Ban Out-of-State Contributions to Ballot Question Committees Initiative that appeared on the 2018 ballot. The measure, which sought to prohibit out-of-state contributions to ballot question committees, was the subject of legal commentary and review by the Legislative Research Council. The measure was later challenged in a lawsuit filed against South Dakota officials.

Jackley also oversaw investigations into prominent figures during his tenure, including an investigation into billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford related to child pornography allegations.

Jackley served as Attorney General until January 5, 2019, when he was succeeded by Jason Ravnsborg.

2018 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2018, Jackley entered the race for Governor of South Dakota, seeking the Republican nomination. His campaign drew on his background in law enforcement and his experience as both a federal and state attorney general. As a western South Dakota native with ranch ties, Jackley sought to appeal to rural voters across the state.

Jackley faced U.S. Representative Kristi Noem in the Republican primary. Noem, who represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district, had built a statewide profile through her service in Congress. The primary contest was competitive, but Noem ultimately prevailed, defeating Jackley for the Republican nomination. Noem went on to win the general election and became the first female Governor of South Dakota.

Private Practice (2019–2023)

After leaving the Attorney General's office in January 2019, Jackley returned to private legal practice. He opened a Pierre office for a Rapid City-based law firm, maintaining his involvement in South Dakota's legal community.

During this period, attention turned to whether Jackley might seek to return to public office. In 2021, reports emerged that Jackley was considering a challenge to incumbent Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, who had become embroiled in controversy after being involved in a fatal car accident in September 2020 in which he struck and killed a pedestrian. Ravnsborg was ultimately impeached and removed from office by the South Dakota Legislature in 2022.

Second Tenure as Attorney General (2023–present)

Jackley won the 2022 election for Attorney General of South Dakota unopposed, running without a Democratic or third-party challenger in the general election. He took office on January 3, 2023, serving under Governor Kristi Noem — the same politician who had defeated him in the 2018 gubernatorial primary — and subsequently under Governor Larry Rhoden. His return to the office made him one of a small number of South Dakota attorneys general to serve non-consecutive terms.

Crime Statistics and Law Enforcement

In his second tenure, Jackley has maintained a focus on law enforcement and public safety. In February 2026, Jackley released the 2025 Crime in South Dakota Report, which documented overall crime trends in the state. The report indicated that overall crime in South Dakota was down in 2025, though crime statistics varied by location across the state.

Jackley has also been active in law enforcement training. In February 2026, he honored the newest cohort of Sioux Falls Law Enforcement Training graduates, congratulating 19 recruits who completed the program.

Opioid Settlement Funds

Jackley has been involved in efforts to deploy opioid settlement funds in South Dakota. As of early 2026, the state had approximately $99 million in opioid settlement funds. Jackley pushed for the deployment of these funds as providers in cities such as Rapid City waited for the money to be distributed for treatment and prevention programs.

Legislative Advocacy and Legal Actions

In February 2026, Jackley testified in opposition to a bill that would have repealed South Dakota's death penalty, advocating for the retention of the state's existing death penalty statute.

Also in February 2026, Jackley joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general supporting a lawsuit challenging a federal rule that expanded access to the abortion drug mifepristone.

Jackley announced that a state circuit court had ordered the Mayday Health case to move forward in February 2026, signaling ongoing legal enforcement actions by his office.

2025 Congressional Campaign

In September 2025, Jackley announced his candidacy for South Dakota's lone U.S. House seat, seeking the Republican nomination. In his campaign launch, he called for improved legal immigration policy, positioning himself on a key national policy issue while drawing on his experience as a law enforcement official. The campaign represented Jackley's second attempt to move beyond the Attorney General's office to a higher political position, following his unsuccessful 2018 gubernatorial bid.

Personal Life

Jackley is married to Angela Jackley. The couple has two children. The family has maintained ties to the Black Hills region of western South Dakota, where Jackley grew up in Sturgis. Jackley has been described as maintaining connections to the ranching community and rural way of life in western South Dakota.