 Jack Der Hagopian Blue Collar BackgroundJack worked in various fields from construction (including landscaping, concrete and bricklaying) to substitute high school teacher, while working his way through College and Law School. Public ServiceIn 1990, while a third year law student at the University of South Dakota, School of Law, Jack interned with the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s office, where he began his trial career. By the time he graduated Law School Jack had five jury trials under his belt. Jack was then hired by the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office, where he defended people that were charged with criminal matters but didn’t have the money to hire a lawyer. He won his first jury trial as a defense lawyer and continued winning his cases and stayed with the Public Defenders office for five years handling cases ranging from misdemeanors like DWI and Simple Assault to felonies like Aggravated Assault, Rape, Robbery and Homicide. Jack strongly believes that the quality of our legal system depends not on the way the privileged and wealthy are treated but on how regular, working class and the less fortunate are treated and is proud to have been able to serve them as a Public Defender. Private PracticeIn 1995, Jack left the Public Defender’s office and entered private practice, continuing his criminal defense practice and also actively representing injured persons in personal injury claims, insurance claims, medical malpractice claims, civil rights matters and contract claims. Jack’s father suffered a workplace injury when Jack was eight years old, and he knows from first hand experience the toll and injury can have on not only the injured person but on the family as well, both financially and emotionally. Jack continues to fight for people’s rights and believes in going to trial when the insurance company is taking advantage of people. He has successfully obtained settlements and verdicts for his clients on a variety of cases including car accident injuries, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death cases, medical malpractice, product liability and dog bite injuries. Advanced TrainingJack is also an alumni of Gerry Spence’s acclaimed Trial Lawyer’s College in Dubois, Wyoming.
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 James Abourezk Humble BeginningsJames was born to Christian Lebanese parents, who had emigrated from the southern Lebanese village of EI-Kfeir. James was born in Wood and lived in South Dakota most of his life. Public ServiceJames George Abourezk is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator, and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1973 until 1979. Between 1948 and 1952, he served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. EducationBack in the U.S., he received a degree in civil engineering from South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City in 1961, and then earned an advanced degree from University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion in 1966. He passed the bar, and began a legal practice in Rapid City.
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