Roger Tellinghuisen

Roger Alan Tellinghuisen
27th Attorney General of South Dakota
In office January 6, 1987 – 1991
Governor	George S. Mickelson
Preceded by	Mark V. Meierhenry
Succeeded by	Mark Barnett
Personal details
Born	(1953-03-27) March 27, 1953
Political party	Republican
Education	Black Hills State University (BA) University of South Dakota (JD)

Roger Alan Tellinghuisen (born March 27, 1953) is an American attorney, was the 27th Attorney General of South Dakota from 1987 to 1991.

Early life and education

Roger Tellinghuisen graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Business Administration in 1975 and obtained his juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1978.

Legal career

Following graduation from law school, Roger joined the firm of Amundson and Fuller in Lead, South Dakota where he was engaged in private practice. In 1981, he left private practice to join the Lawrence County States Attorney's Office where he prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases. In 1982, Roger was appointed the first full-time states attorney for Lawrence County where he was the chief legal counsel and criminal lawyer for the county providing legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, Planning and Zoning Commission and the other county offices.

Attorney General of South Dakota

In 1986, he was elected in a statewide election to the office of Attorney General for the State of South Dakota. As the Attorney General, he was the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer for the State of South Dakota. His duties as Attorney General included providing legal counsel to the Governor, constitutional officers, and various boards and commissions. He was responsible for overseeing five legal divisions staffed by 23 attorneys.

South Dakota v. Dole

He is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar (where he argued South Dakota v. Elizabeth Dole, 107 S. Ct. 2793 (1987)), the United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, United States District Court and South Dakota Bar Association.

Later legal career

Following his service as Attorney General, Roger returned to private practice in 1991 with an emphasis in civil litigation, business law; real estate law, gaming law and lobbying. Roger recently joined the DeMersseman, Jensen, Tellinghuisen & Huffman, LLP law firm as a partner in 2011.

Roger is a member of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association and served as its president for the 2011- 2012 term. He was a member of the Black Hills State University Foundation for 23 years, serving as its president for 17 of those years; he is a past president and board member of the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce and on numerous other boards and commissions. He has received numerous honors including being named a Great Plains Super Lawyer 2012 thru 2016; "125 Accomplished Alumni Award", Black Hills State University, 2008; a "Special Achievement Award" from Black Hills State University in 1990; South Dakota "Centennial Alumnus Award" in 1988; and the Outstanding Alumnus Award- Division of Business, Black Hills State University in 1988..

He holds the highest peer review rating awarded by Martindale-Hubble Law Directory (AV ). Representative lobbying clients include: South Dakota Trial Lawyers Assoc.; Deadwood Gaming Assoc.; South Dakota County Officials Assoc.; South Dakota County Commissioners Association; College of American Pathologists; TracFone, Inc.; Deadwood Table Games, LLC; Aflac; and Liv Hospitality.