William U. Hill
This page is about the Wyoming Supreme Court judge. For information about the Colorado Supreme Court judge, please see William A. Hill (Colorado). If you are looking for information on the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission member, please see William B. Hill, Jr.. For information on the Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge for the District of North Dakota, please see William A. Hill (North Dakota).
| William U. Hill | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| Wyoming Supreme Court | |
| Title: | Justice |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Jim Geringer |
| Active: | 1998 - present |
| Past post: | Wyoming Attorney General |
| Past term: | 1995 - 1998 |
| Past position: | Judge |
| Personal History | |
| Bachelors: | University of Wyoming, 1970 |
| Law School: | U.W. College of Law, 1974 |
Contents |
William U. Hill was appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court on November 3, 1998 by Governor Jim Geringer. His new eight-year term expires in 2016.
Education
Hill received his B.A. from the University of Wyoming in 1970 and was graduated from U.W. College of Law in 1974.[1]
Career
Hill has served as U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, Assistant Attorney General for Wyoming, and as Chief of Staff-Chief Counsel for Senator Malcolm Wallop in Washington, D.C. Hill also spent years in private practice. In 1995, Hill became the Attorney General of Wyoming. He was serving in this capacity when he joined the Wyoming Supreme Court in 1998. Justice Hill served as Wyoming's Chief Justice from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2006. [2]
Elections
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.[3]
Notable rulings
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) pleaded 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]
External links
- Justice Wyoming Judicial Branch, Wyoming Supreme Court Justices
- Project Vote Smart, Justice William U. Hill (WY)
- League of Women Voters, Judicial Guide 2008 (See page 2)
- University of Wyoming, "Justice William U. Hill to Speak at UW's Torchlight Laurels April 25, 2008"
- Wyoming State Bar, "Ethically Speaking - Supreme Court Adopts Changes to the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct", June 2006
References
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|---|---|---|---|
| Current |
William U. Hill • Marilyn Kite • James Burke • Barton Voigt • Michael K. Davis • | ||
| Former | Michael Golden • Willis Van Devanter • | ||
