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Courts in Wyoming
| More information on Wyoming's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Wyoming, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Wyoming's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Wyoming
The five justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court and the 24 judges of the Wyoming District Courts are selected in an identical manner. When a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement from a list of three names provided by a nominating commission. Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they must stand for retention in the next general election. If retained, a judge will finish the remainder of his or her predecessor's unexpired term. Subsequent terms last eight years for supreme court justices and six years for district court judges.[1]
Judges of the Wyoming Circuit Courts are chosen through the same merit selection process used to select appellate and district judges. When a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement from a list of three names provided by a nominating commission. Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they must stand for retention in the next general election.[2] Subsequent terms last four years.[3]
Judges of the Wyoming Municipal Courts are usually appointed by the mayor of the municipality and confirmed by the council. Term lengths vary. A law degree is not required, but all municipal judges must be qualified electors in the state.[4]
To read more about judicial elections in Wyoming, click here.
Federal courts
The federal district court in Wyoming is the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 17, 1985 - |
Vanderbilt University, 1961 |
University of Wyoming College of Law, 1964 |
||
| November 7, 2011 - |
University of Wyoming, 1989 |
University of Wyoming College of Law, 1992 |
||
| March 12, 2024 - |
University of Wyoming, 1990 |
University of Wyoming College of Law, 1994 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 2
- Republican appointed: 1
Judicial selections
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in Wyoming. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Wyoming are:
State supreme court
- See also: Wyoming Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the state and hears appeals from the trial courts. It is the only appellate court in Wyoming.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Supreme Court | Lynne Boomgaarden | Nonpartisan | February 20, 2018 |
| Wyoming Supreme Court | John G. Fenn | Nonpartisan | January 17, 2022 |
| Wyoming Supreme Court | Kari Jo Gray | Nonpartisan | October 9, 2018 |
| Wyoming Supreme Court | Bridget Hill | Nonpartisan | May 28, 2025 |
| Wyoming Supreme Court | Robert Jarosh | Nonpartisan | March 27, 2024 |
Trial courts
The state's counties are organized into nine judicial districts served by district and circuit courts.[2]
District Courts
- See also: Wyoming District Courts
The district courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. Also, the district courts may hear appeals from lower courts.[5]
Circuit Courts
- See also: Wyoming Circuit Courts
The circuit courts hear misdemeanor criminal cases and smaller civil cases.[2]
Municipal Courts
- See also: Wyoming Municipal Courts
The municipal courts hear ordinance violations that occur within their jurisdiction.[6]
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Wyoming," accessed March 30, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wyoming Judicial Branch, "About the Circuit Courts," accessed March 30, 2021
- ↑ Lexis Nexis: Wyoming Statutes Public Access, "§ 22-2-105. Terms of office and offices voted on at general elections," accessed March 29, 2021
- ↑ Lexis Nexis: Wyoming Statutes Public Access, "§ 5-6-103. Appointment of municipal judges; qualifications.," accessed March 29, 2021
- ↑ Wyoming Judicial Branch, "District Courts," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ Wyoming Judicial Branch, "About the Courts," accessed April 11, 2025
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Wyoming • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Wyoming
State courts:
Wyoming Supreme Court • Wyoming District Courts • Wyoming Circuit Courts • Wyoming Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wyoming • Wyoming judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wyoming
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