PIERRE, S.D(KCCR)- The South Dakota Supreme Court Friday afternoon issued an advisory opinion regarding the relationship of legislators to conflicts of interest in state contracts.  Governor Kristi Noem was waiting for the ruling before moving forward with filling a handful of legislative vacancies in districts near Rapid City.  District 24 Representative Will Mortenson says the issue was beginning to get confusing down to park passes and drivers licenses.

The issues of legislative contracts and conflicts of interest could have influenced Representative Mike Weisgram’s decision to seek a term in the legislature.

Senator Jim Mehlhaff says the Supreme Courts opinion is big in that in changes previous thinking on the issue.

Saturday morning the Governor’s Office announced that former lawmaker Kristin Conzet was appointed to serve District 32 in the South Dakota House.  Conzet fills the opening left when Representative Becky Drury who was appointed to fill a vacant seat in District 34.