Gina Ruggieri

Gina Ruggieri is an attorney at Southern Hills Law PLLC in Custer, South Dakota. She represents clients in criminal defense, federal Indian law, family law, and special education matters. Her practice includes work in federal and tribal courts, as well as legal issues affecting individuals and families throughout Hot Springs, Custer, and the Black Hills area. Ruggieri brings public service experience and practical courtroom knowledge to each matter she handles.

Ruggieri attended New York University and earned her Juris Doctor in 2013. Her education provided a strong foundation in legal analysis, advocacy, and practical problem-solving across different court systems. That training supports her ability to evaluate complicated legal questions, explain available options clearly, and develop practical strategies for clients facing criminal charges, family disputes, federal Indian law matters, or concerns involving access to special education services.

Ruggieri began her career through pro bono service with a legal aid organization’s domestic violence unit. She later worked for Dakota Plains on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation, served as a tribal prosecutor, and served as a tribal court judge. She also established her own practice before joining Southern Hills Law PLLC in 2023. Her experience includes representing a family in Steckelberg v. Chamberlain School District, a four-year special education dispute that resulted in a favorable federal court decision.

Gina Ruggieri has devoted more than half of her legal career to public service. Her background in prosecution, judicial service, legal aid, private practice, and federal litigation gives her a broad perspective on the challenges clients face. She helps individuals and families understand legal procedures, protect their rights, and pursue workable solutions in sensitive and demanding matters. Her practice reflects a commitment to accessible representation and careful advocacy across South Dakota communities.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Southern Hills Law PLLC
• Member, State Bar of South Dakota

Licensed State

• South Dakota

Education

• New York University
  Juris Doctor (JD)