Wyoming Supreme Court

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Wyoming Supreme Court
Wyoming Supreme Court Building, Cheyenne, Southwest view 20110823 1.jpg
Wyoming Supreme Court Building, in downtown Cheyenne.
Wyoming Supreme Court courtroom.jpg
Wyoming Supreme Court courtroom
Wyoming Supreme Court
Jurisdiction Wyoming
Location Cheyenne
Composition methodExecutive appointment
Authorised by Wyoming State Constitution
Appeals to Supreme Court of the United States
Judge term length8 years
Number of positions5
Website Official website
Chief Justice
Currently Lynne J. Boomgaarden
SinceMay 28, 2025
Lead position endsMay 28, 2029
Jurist term ends2028

The Wyoming Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices. Each Justice is appointed by the Governor of Wyoming from a list of three nominees submitted by the judicial nominating commission, [1] for an eight-year term. [2] One year after being appointed, a new justice stands for retention in office on a statewide ballot at the next general election. [3] If a majority votes for retention, the justice serves the remainder of the term and may stand for retention for succeeding eight-year terms by means of a nonpartisan retention ballot every eight years. [3] A justice must be a lawyer with at least nine years' experience in the law, at least 30 years old, and a United States citizen who has resided in Wyoming for at least three years. [4] Justices must retire when they reach 70 years of age. [5]

Contents

The five Justices select the Chief Justice from amongst themselves. The person chosen serves as Chief Justice for four years. However, Richard V. Thomas of Cheyenne, a justice from 1974 to 2001, was chief justice only for two years (1985–1986).

Justices

Current justices

As of May 28,2025,

Justice [6] BornJoinedTerm expiresMandatory retirementAppointed byLaw school
Lynne J. Boomgaarden , Chief Justice1961 (age 6364)February 20, 2018 [a] 20282031 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming
Kari Jo Gray September 20, 1960 (age 64)October 9, 201820282030 Matt Mead (R) Wyoming
John G. Fenn January 17, 202220322032 Mark Gordon (R) Wyoming
Robert Jarosh January 13, 1971 (age 54)March 27, 202420262041 Mark Gordon (R) Wyoming
Bridget Hill May 28, 20252026 Mark Gordon (R) Wyoming
  1. Became Chief Justice on May 28, 2025.

References

  1. "Article 5, Section 4 (b)". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  2. "Article 5, Section 4 (f)". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Article 5, Section 4 (g)". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  4. "Article 5, Section 8". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  5. "Article 5, Section 5". Wyoming Constitution. State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  6. "Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Bios". Wyoming Supreme Court website. Wyoming Supreme Court. Retrieved January 27, 2013.