Justice Steven L. Zinter was born in Minneapolis in 1950, but has lived in South Dakota since 1968. His parents met while attending South Dakota State University, where his father studied Agriculture and his mother studied Nursing. Zinter attended the University of South Dakota, where he made some of his finest memories. As an undergraduate, he studied Business which led to a Bachelors of Science. During his junior year, he took Business Law, which piqued his interest in a possible law career. Zinter next attended the University of South Dakota Law School. Upon graduation from law school, Justice Zinter practiced law as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Dakota. From 1978 to 1986 he practiced law at a private firm in Pierre. Justice Zinter also served as the Hughes County State’s Attorney. His career on the Bench began when he was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 1987 and he served in that capacity until 1997. In 1997 he was appointed Presiding Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Zinter was appointed to the Supreme Court on April 2, 2002 by former Governor Bill Janklow. Zinter met his wife of 39 years at the University of South Dakota. The Zinters have two daughters and three grandchildren.