Everything you need to know about “judicial detention” on your ballot in Wyoming

Most people haven’t seen their local or state judges in action, so how can they decide on Election Day whether to keep them on the bench?

All Wyoming judges, including Wyoming Supreme Court judges, circuit court judges and circuit court judges, are initially screened and recommended by the state. Judicial Nomination Committee. The governor then selects and appoints lawyers from these nominations. Then, during the first general election after appointment—and then every eight, six, or four years thereafter, depending on which court they serve on—voters decide whether to “keep” the judge or justice, that is, to keep their job.

If less than half of voters choose to keep a judge, they will lose their seat.

Wyoming used it “appoint-appoint-retain” system since the 70s, when a national movement encouraged such policies to make the judiciary less politicized.

Retention elections This will happen during the first general election a year after the governor appoints a judge, and then again if the judge decides he wants to continue serving after his term ends.

The terms of Supreme Court judges are eight years, and the terms of district and chancery court judges are six years. The term of office of district court judges is four years.

To prepare for a judicial decision to retain candidates in an election, it is helpful to know in advance who will be on your ballot. You can get a sample ballot from your county clerk’s office, your local elections website, or vote.org.

Once you know who you need to evaluate, WyoFile Election Guide can provide you with a link to the Wyoming State Bar’s evaluation of each judge.

This evaluation uses feedback from attorneys who have appeared before each judge over the past several years, assessing each judge’s knowledge of the law, impartiality and respectfulness, among other things.

Polls of lawyers in this election did not show any inadequacy of any judge. Instead, as a result of aggregation of responses, all judges were judged to be above adequate or adequate.

Those who go beyond the attorney’s opinion may turn to the state’s opinion. Code of Conduct for Judges when deciding whether their judge acted appropriately.

Some also take age and mental fitness into account. At the Wyoming Supreme Court level, judges must retire at age 70, but that rule does not apply to other judges.

The outcome of a retention election could have far-reaching consequences across the state, ranging from topics as broad as abortion one person life imprisonment.