Judicial selection in Wyoming
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Canon 5 of the "Code of Judicial Conduct" in Wyoming prohibits judges or justices from actively campaigning for retention, unless an active campaign is being waged against retaining the judge.
Supreme Court
Justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court are chosen by the Governor of Wyoming from a nominating commission, the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission.[1]
Once appointed to the court, justices must stand for a retention election at the next general election that is at last one year after the appointment. If the justice is retained, he or she serves the remainder of the unexpired term of the justice they succeeded on the court.
Justices serve for renewable eight-year terms punctuated by retention elections.[2]
To serve on the state's highest court, these conditions must be met:
- U.S. citizenship
- Residency in Wyoming for a minimum of three years.
- A minimum of nine years of legal experience.
- A minimum age of thirty.
Justices must retire when they reach the age of 70.
District courts
Like members of the Wyoming Supreme Court, judges for the Wyoming District Courts are chosen by the Governor of Wyoming when a vacancy occurs from a list of three judges put forward by the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission. District court judges serve for renewable six-year terms punctuated by retention elections.
Circuit courts
Wyoming's circuit court judges are chosen by the Governor of Wyoming when a vacancy occurs from a list of three judges put forward by the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission. District court judges serve for renewable four-year terms punctuated by retention elections.
Retention rates
Since Wyoming adopted the commission process with retention election method in 1972, five judges have been rejected by voters, including a justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court whose 1992 bid for retention failed.
Changes over time
- In 1890, justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court were elected to eight-year terms. District court judges were elected to six-year terms.
- In 1972, Wyoming voters passed a constitutional amendment creating the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics and the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission.
- In 1976, the requirement that the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission issue a prior approval before a judge could stand for retention.
- In 1977, the method of selecting county court judges was changed to the [Commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection|commission process]].
External links
- Wyoming's judicial selection process: is it getting the job done?
- Judicial selection in Wyoming
- League of Women Voters of Wyoming Judicial Voters Guide 2008
References
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The Wyoming Project on Judgepedia
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