Wyoming Supreme Court

The Wyoming Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices. Each Justice is appointed by the Governor of Wyoming from a list of three nominees submitted by the judicial nominating commission,[1] for an eight-year term.[2] One year after being appointed, a new justice stands for retention in office on a statewide ballot at the next general election.[3] If a majority votes for retention, the justice serves the remainder of the term and may stand for retention for succeeding eight-year terms by means of a nonpartisan retention ballot every eight years.[3] A justice must be a lawyer with at least nine years' experience in the law, at least 30 years old, and a United States citizen who has resided in Wyoming for at least three years.[4] Justices must retire when they reach 70 years of age.[5]

Wyoming Supreme Court
Wyoming Supreme Court Building, in downtown Cheyenne.
Wyoming Supreme Court courtroom
LocationCheyenne, Wyoming
Composition methodExecutive appointment
Authorized byWyoming State Constitution
Appeals toSupreme Court of the United States
Judge term length8 years
Number of positions5
WebsiteOfficial website
Chief Justice
CurrentlyMichael K. Davis
Since2018
Lead position ends2022
Jurist term ends2023

The five Justices select the Chief Justice from amongst themselves. The person chosen serves as Chief Justice for four years. However, Richard V. Thomas of Cheyenne, a justice from 1974 to 2001, was chief justice only for two years (1985–1986).

Justices
Main article: List of justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court

Current Justices
Justice[6] Born Appointed Current term expires Reaches age 70 Appointed by Law school
Michael K. Davis, Chief Justice August 30, 2012 (as Associate Justice)
July 1, 2018 (as Chief)		 2023 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming
Keith G. Kautz 1953 (age 67–68) August 4, 2015 2024 2023 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming
Lynne J. Boomgaarden February 20, 2018 2021 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming
Kate M. Fox 1955 (age 65–66) January 3, 2014 2024 2025 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming
Kari Jo Gray (1960-09-20) September 20, 1960 October 9, 2018 2021 2030 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming

In 1974, Chief Justice Leonard McEwan (1925–2008) stepped down from the high court in Cheyenne to assume the Fourth District judgeship in Sheridan, where he had earlier practiced law. McEwan is thus far the only Supreme Court justice in Wyoming history to move to a lower court judgeship. McEwan was narrowly elected to the high court in 1968 on a nonpartisan ballot.

References
  1. "Article 5, Section 4 (b)". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. "Article 5, Section 4 (f)". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  3. "Article 5, Section 4 (g)". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. "Article 5, Section 8". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  5. "Article 5, Section 5". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  6. "Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Bios". Wyoming Supreme Court website. Wyoming Supreme Court. Retrieved 27 January 2013.

Notes


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