Although filings in the Supreme Court returned to their pre- 1996 level, cases are still complex and require careful research. The volume of work in circuit courts continues to expand, particularly as the population increases and people turn to the court system to solve many social, political, and personal problems. Juvenile dependency cases and administrative appeals, followed by felony cases and juvenile delinquency cases, consume the greatest amount of judicial resources. An innovation in court services is a new probation philosophy referred to as the Balanced Approach to Restorative Justice. Another attempt to improve probation services involves the funding of additional court service officers. Work of the judicial system's planning council continues to identify ways of improving the system in the areas of technology, human relations, and administration. A joint committee has been established to explore the feasibility of providing alternative dispute resolution services in a wide range of civil cases. The organization of South Dakota's courts is described, and caseload information is provided for the Supreme Court and circuit courts. Caseload data are tabulated for civil cases, criminal cases, and court services. Tables and figures