Education
University of South Dakota.
University of South Dakota.
He previously was the federal public defender for North Dakota and South Dakota. Born in Huron, South Dakota, Viken earned a bachelor"s degree from the University of South Dakota in May 1974 and a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in May 1977. From 1977 until 1981, Viken served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota and in 1981 became the Acting United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota.
In 2003, Viken was appointed federal public defender for the District of South Dakota by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
In 2005, the Eighth Circuit appointed Viken the federal public defender for the District of North Dakota as well to lead a combined-district organization for both North Dakota and South Dakota. On June 25, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Viken to a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota that was created when Judge Lawrence L. Piersol took senior status.
The United States Senate confirmed Viken in a 99-0 vote on September 29, 2009. He received his commission the following day.
He has served as Chief Judge since 2013.
