Judicial selection in Wyoming
| Judicial selection in Wyoming | |
 | |
| Wyoming Supreme Court | |
| Method: | Comm. select., Gov. appt. |
| Term: | 8 years |
| Wyoming District Courts | |
| Method: | Comm. select., Gov. appt. |
| Term: | 6 years |
| Wyoming Circuit Courts | |
| Method: | Comm. select., Gov. appt. |
| Term: | 4 years |
Contents |
Judges of the Wyoming Supreme Court and the Wyoming district and circuit courts, are chosen through a commission process. Once appointed, they must stand for retention at the end of a term.[1]
Supreme Court
Justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court are chosen by the Governor of Wyoming from a nominating commission, the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission.[2]
Once appointed to the court, justices must stand for a retention election at the next general election that is at least 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.[3]
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. [1]
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. [1]
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. [1]
Municipal courts
Wyoming Municipal Court judges are appointed by the mayor of the municipality, with consent of the council. Their terms vary.[4]
Retention rates
Since 1972, only five judges have not won retention. [3]
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 process. [5]
See also
- State Supreme Court elections
- Campaign finance requirements for Wyoming judicial elections
- Courts in Wyoming
- Wyoming judicial elections
External links
References
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