The South Dakota Supreme Court has appointed Timothy Barnaud as a magistrate judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, the South Dakota Unified Judicial System announced Monday.
Barnaud will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Chad Callahan as a circuit judge. He is scheduled to take the bench July 27.
A Belle Fourche-area native, Barnaud grew up on a ranch northeast of the city. He earned a history degree from Dakota Wesleyan University, a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law, and a master’s degree in environmental and natural resource law from the University of Denver.
After returning to South Dakota, Barnaud worked as an assistant attorney general before opening Barnaud Law Firm in Belle Fourche in 2013. His practice has included criminal law, estate planning, business law, environmental and natural resource law, appellate advocacy, and mineral and petroleum law.
Barnaud has also served as Butte County state’s attorney since January 2025.
The Fourth Judicial Circuit serves Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach counties.
