Judge Retention Question On Ballot

When voters go to the polls in Wyoming next month, they will find themselves asked if several judges should be retained on the bench.  The Wyoming State Bar Association explains that Wyoming judges are appointed by a process in which the Judicial Nominating Commission screens applicants and recommends three qualified candidates to the Governor for appointment.  Wyoming’s five Supreme Court Justices must stand for retention every eight years. This means that voters go to the polls during each General Election and decide whether or not those justices standing for retention should be retained in office. District Court Judges in Wyoming stand for retention every six years, and Circuit Court Judges face a retention vote every four years. The Ninth District Court includes courtrooms in Fremont, Sublette and Teton Counties with three judges serving the district.  If the results of the General Election indicate that a judge should not be retained in office, the Bar Association says a Judicial Nominating Commission would then advertise for applicants to fill the vacancy and the process would begin again.  Meanwhile, those judges in the Ninth District have all seen a high approval rating by members of the Bar.