Personal
I was born in Bullhead, South Dakota on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and an enrolled member of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Fort Yates, North Dakota. I am married to Tara and we had four children, twin boys Tyler and Turner, Tucker and Taylor.
Education
Graduated from Huron Senior High School, 1972; Harvard University, 1976, with a B.A. Degree in Government and International Relations; Harvard Honors Thesis on ‘Tribal Government in South Dakota”; Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from South Dakota State University 1977, with Master’s Thesis on “Analysis of Media Coverage of Oahe Irrigation Project”; Law Degree from the University of South Dakota, 1980; member of South Dakota Law Review and author of Law Review article entitled “Relief from Default Judgments.”
Honors
Recipient of Harvard and Dartmouth College Scholarships, 1972; Finalist in Rhodes Scholarship Competition in 1976; Harvard Dean’s List; Harvard Club of New York Academic Scholarship, 1973; Sarah and Pauline Maier Academic Scholarship (Harvard University), 1973 through 1976; Dennis Busch Memorial Award (Outstanding Athlete at Huron High School), 1972; Recipient of the American Legion’ Citizenship Award for Academic Achievement and Citizenship, 1972; Named Recipient of Outstanding Young Citizen Award/Huron Jaycees, 1981; Outstanding Young Men of America Award, 1981; SDSU Distinguished Native American Alumnus Award, 2001; Volunteer of the Year Award from Girl Scouts/Nyoda Council, 2003; Awarded Honor of Eagle Feather by Si Award; Received the George McGovern Grassroots Award in 2003; Listed in a variety of Who’s Who Publications for Government and Politics.
Law Career
Has been a practicing attorney in the State of South Dakota since graduation from Law School in 1980. Started own law firm in 1986 and is currently sole proprietor of Volesky Law Firm in Huron, South Dakota. Has practiced in State and Tribal Court in South Dakota and has been admitted to the Federal District Court for South Dakota and has appeared before the Eighth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis and the South Dakota Supreme Court. Has been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Claims and the Supreme Court of the United States. Private practice consists of a general practice of law consisting of trials and appeal matters in all areas of state, tribal and federal law. Member of the American Bar Association, South Dakota Bar Association and Beadle County Bar Association and former President of the Beadle County Bar Association. Elected Bar Commissioner of the South Dakota Bar Association in 2009.
Political Career
Elected delegate to South Dakota Republican Convention in 1978; Elected Chairman of the Beadle County Republican Party in 1978; Elected to South Dakota House of Representatives as a Republican in 1980 and re-elected in 1982 and 1984. In 1986 was a Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives. After being out-of-office for six years, was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1992, receiving re-election in 1994, 1996 and 1998. In 2000, was elected to the South Dakota State Senate. Served a combined 16 years in the South Dakota State Legislature. Served as Assistant Majority Whip in South Dakota House of Representatives; Vice Chairman of House Judiciary Committee and member of the State Affairs Committee and Bonding Committee; Co-Chairman of a Special Task Force on Water Development in South Dakota; appointed by Governor William Janklow as a charter member of the South Dakota Railroad Authority and a member of the State Indian Affairs Commission and the South Dakota Code Commission; Co-Chairman of the South Dakota Penitentiary Study Commission; appointed in 1981 by United States Senator Larry Pressler to serve on a ten person committee to recommend candidate for Federal Judgeship in South Dakota. In 1997, was nominated by Senator Tom Daschle for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior for Indian Affairs. Former member of the State-Tribal Relations Committee in South Dakota Legislature. While a member of the South Dakota State Senate, served on the Commerce, Transportation and Retirement Laws Committees. Candidate for Governor of South Dakota in 2002; Democratic Party nominee for Attorney General of South Dakota 2002, 2006 and 2010. Elected Huron City Commissioner. 2003; As City Commissioner served as liaison to Huron Parks and Recreation Committee, Lake and Riverfront Committee and City Commissioner in charge of Huron Department of Recreation and Huron Street Department. Appointed legal counsel for the South Dakota Democratic Party, 2003; Appointed by Governor Mike Rounds to Governor’s Task Force on Correction Reform, 2003. Candidate for Mayor of Huron. South Dakota, 2004.