![]() § 5-9-109 (Circuit judges “shall, at such general election, stand for retention in office throughout the circuit as provided in article 5, section 4, of the Wyoming Constitution.”). V, § 4(g) (“The electorate of the whole state shall vote on the question of retention or rejection of justices of the supreme court, and any other statewide court the electorate of the several judicial districts shall vote on the question of retention or rejection of judges of their respective districts, and the electorate of such other subdivisions of the state as shall be prescribed by law shall vote on the question of retention or rejection of any other judges to which these provisions may be extended.”). V, § 4(h) (“f a majority of those voting on the question vote negatively to any judicial candidacy, a vacancy will thereby be created in that office at the end of its existing term.”). If a justice/judge receives a majority of “no” votes, he or she is removed from office at the end of the year. If a justice/judge receives a majority of “yes” votes, he or she serves another full term. In a retention election, voters decide whether a justice/judge should be retained or removed from office. Retention elections are intended to focus on the professional competency of Wyoming’s justices/judges rather than the popularity of individual decisions. This means that a justice/judge does not run “against” anyone and is not allowed to campaign unless there is active opposition to his or her retention in office. ![]() ![]() Judicial retention elections are non-partisan. HOW ARE JUSTICES/JUDGES CHOSEN IN WYOMING?Īfter having been selected by the Governor to serve as a justice/judge as described in FAQ #2, Wyoming law requires justices/judges to periodically appear on the general election ballot and stand for retention by a vote of Wyoming citizens. Wyoming Judicial Branch, About the Courts.Most municipal judges are part-time positions and many are lawyers. Municipal court judges are generally appointed by the mayor with the consent of the municipal council. Decisions in Municipal Courts may be appealed to the District Courts. A municipal court judge may assess penalties of up to $750 and/or six months in jail. Municipal Courts are not state courts and only have jurisdiction over issues involving municipality’s ordinances. Municipal courts operate in some incorporated cities and towns. ![]() The Wyoming Supreme Court adopted final rules for the Chancery Court on September 21, 2021. The act establishes a court with jurisdiction to decide actions seeking declaratory or injunctive relief and actions seeking money recovery over $50,000 that arise from claims including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, derivative actions, the Uniform Commercial Code, and the Uniform Trust Code. On March 15, 2019, Governor Gordon signed into law an act of the 2019 Wyoming legislature creating a Chancery Court, whose purpose is to provide a forum for streamlined resolution of commercial, business, and trust cases. The circuit courts may set bail for people accused of crimes, and conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases. Circuit courts also hear family violence, stalking, and forcible entry and detainer cases. Circuit courts hear all misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases where less than $50,000 is sought. There are circuit courts in all 23 counties within the nine judicial districts. There are 23 district judges, organized into nine judicial districts. The work of the district courts includes trials in the most serious cases. They also hear appeals from lower court decisions. The district courts hear felony criminal cases, civil cases where more than $50,000 is sought, juvenile matters and probate matters. It hears appeals from district court decisions and petitions for extraordinary relief from lower court decisions. The Wyoming Supreme Court is the highest level of court in the state and its decisions on issues of state law are final. Board/Committee Expression of Interest Form.Wyoming Lawyer Assistance Program (WyLAP).Past Articles from the Wyoming Law Review Land & Water Law Division.Planning Ahead: Succession Planning Guide.Free Meeting Space with Video Conferencing Capabilities.
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