Mr. Laidlaw received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Black Hills State University in 2012. Mr. Laidlaw graduated with High Honors and received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2015. While in law school, he received Awards of Excellence for Highest Class Grade in Criminal Procedure and Constitutional Law. After law school, Mr. Laidlaw was a judicial law clerk for the Seventh Judicial Circuit of South Dakota. Mr. Laidlaw joined the Pennington County Public Defender's Office in July of 2016.  He is currently assigned to handle felony files. Mr. Laidlaw's favorite hobbies including camping and fishing.