Alumnus Sherman Marshall Receives NAICJA Lifetime Achievement Award
The award was announced at the National Tribal Judicial and Court Personnel Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Oct. 18, 2022. The NAICJA Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded to honor a tribal court judge, peacemaker or another tribal system adjudicator of disputes who has worked in the tribal justice field for at least 20 years in their role.
“It is difficult to fully understand and comprehend how much Sherman was able to accomplish during his long tenure on the bench,” said Frank Pommersheim, J.D., professor emeritus in the USD Knudson School of Law. “Early in his judicial career, Judge Marshall decided that it was incumbent upon him and his staff to visit all 20 tribal communities on the reservation to describe the judicial system to community members and equally important to receive input (including criticism) from community members. Over time, these efforts did much to enhance and increase community respect for the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court system.”
Marshall was born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. He is a fluent Lakota speaker and deeply steeped in Lakota tradition and custom. Marshall received his Associate of Arts degree from Sinte Gleska University and was the first recipient of a Bachelor of Selected Studies from Sinte Gleska University. He is a 1984 graduate from the USD School of Law and a longtime member of the South Dakota Bar Association.
Upon graduation from USD law, Marshall was admitted to practice and returned home to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. In 1986, he joined the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court as the Chief Judge and held that position until his retirement year.
NAICJA is a non-profit membership organization of present and former tribal court judges, court personnel and other tribal justice system supporters from approximately 300 tribal courts throughout the United States. NAICJA provides support, continuing education and technical assistance to tribal justice systems and seeks to further public knowledge and understanding of tribal courts.
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