William U. Hill
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William U. Hill (b. 1948) was appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court on November 3, 1998 by Governor Jim Geringer (R).In 2008, Hill faced a retention election for a new eight-year term on the court. He won retention with 169,561 votes in favor of retention compared to 44,837 votes against.[1] His new eight-year term expires in 2016.
Legal Background
Hill received his B.A. from the University of Wyoming in 1970 and was graduated from U.W. College of Law in 1974.
Legal Career
In his early legal career, Justice Hill served as both an Assistant United States Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General for Wyoming, and was engaged in private practice in Riverton, Wyoming, Seattle, Washington, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. He also served as Chief of Staff-Chief Counsel for Senator Malcolm Wallop in Washington, D.C. [2] Before his appointment, Justice Hill served as the state's Attorney General (1995-1998). Justice Hill served as Wyoming's Chief Justice from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2006.
$9.46 million jury verdict
Justice Hill penned the majority opinion for a 2008 Wyoming Supreme Court case which upheld a $9.46 million jury verdict for an injured coal miner. The accident occurred in 2002 and rendered the plaintiff a paraplegic. "The evidence was sufficient to sustain the jury's conclusion that [the defendants] acted with willful and wanton, intentional negligence," said the court opinion written by Justice William U. Hill.[3]
Warrantless drug search
In March of 2008, the Wyoming Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Jeremy Fenton by Laramie County District Court Judge Peter Arnold. Fenton had (conditionally) plead guilty to charges convicting him of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver; the conditional terms allowed him to challenge Judge Arnold's ruling which had denied his motion to suppress evidence found and statements made during a search of his home. "The Supreme Court, in an opinion written by Justice William Hill, said the state failed to prove the search that disclosed the evidence which was the basis for the charge against Benton was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Wyoming Constitution.
Hill's opinion quoted the amendment that protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures and case law "'because we wish to make clear that the issue presented in a case such as this is one of the most important known to Anglo-American jurisprudence.'"[4]
Salary
As of 2007, Justice Hill makes $119,300 per annum for his service on the state's highest court.[5]
External links
- Judicial Guide 2008 about William Hill prepared by the Wyoming League of Women Voters. (See page 2).
- Justice William U. Hill to Speak at UW's Torchlight Laurels April 25, 2008
- Ethically Speaking - Supreme Court Adopts Changes to the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct
