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Wyoming Judicial Council

The Wyoming Judicial Council is the governing body of the Wyoming Judicial Branch. The Wyoming Judicial Council exercises general superintending control over the Judicial Branch for administrative, policy making, and planning purposes.

Overview
Committees
Agendas and Minutes
WJC Council Members
Judicial Council Documents

The Wyoming Judicial Council is the governing body of the Wyoming Judicial Branch.

Pursuant to the Wyoming Constitution, the Order of the Wyoming Supreme Court and the resolution of the Wyoming District Courts, the Wyoming Judicial Council will exercise general superintending control over the Judicial Branch for administrative, policy making, and planning purposes.

Contact Information:
Elisa Butler
State Court Administrator
2301 Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82002

Phone: 307.777.7238
Email: ebutler@courts.state.wy.us

Wyoming Judicial Council Rules and Procedures

Wyoming Judicial Council Committees

The Wyoming Judicial Council is the governing body of the Wyoming Judicial Branch. The Wyoming Judicial Council sets policies and rules for the Judiciary, exercises administrative supervision over the courts in the state, and promulgates rules of practice and procedure for all courts.

Access to Justice Commission

The purpose of the Access to Justice Commission is to assist the Wyoming Judicial Council in furthering access to justice initiatives identified in the Wyoming Judicial Branch strategic plan.

Order Restructuring the Access to Justice Commission
Purpose and Structure of the Access to Justice Commission

Committee Staff
Ruth Critchfield, Judicial Assistant to Justice Gray 
Phone: 307.777.7557
Email: rcritchfield@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Kari Gray, Chairperson	Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	12/31/2026
Hon. Bobbi D. Overfield	District Court Judge	P.O. Box 408	Worland, WY 82401	12/31/2025
Hon. Nichole Collier	Circuit Court Judge	115 N. Center, Ste. 400	Capser, WY 82601	12/31/2027
James Whiting	Wyoming State Bar President	277 St., Ste. 3	Lander, WY 82520	09/19/2025
Jennifer Beeston	Chief Circuit Court Clerk	525 Grand Avenue, Room 400	Laramie, WY 82070	12/31/2026
Walter F. Eggers	Attorney	P.O. Box 1347	Cheyenne, WY 82003	12/31/2027
Devon O’Connell	Attorney	P.O. Box 1285	Cheyenne, WY 82003	12/31/2025
Janet K. Montgomery	District Court Clerk	P.O. Box 764	Pinedale, WY 82941	12/31/2027
Jared Olsen	Senator	P.O. Box 4333	Cheyenne, WY 82003	12/31/2027
Joe Webb	Representative	P.O. Box 1224	Lyman, WY 82937	12/31/2027
Dona Playton	Attorney	College of Law, Dept. 3010, 1000 East University Avenue	Laramie, WY 82071	12/31/2025
Mackenzie Williams	Attorney	109 State Capitol	Cheyenne, WY 82002	12/31/2026

Behavioral Health Committee

The purpose of the Behavioral Health Committee is to review and recommend priorities of the Wyoming Judicial Council in the area of behavioral health to the Wyoming Judicial Council.

Order Creating the Behavioral Health Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Behavioral Health Committee

Committee Staff
Kurt Zunker, Behavioral Health Services Manager
Phone: 307.777.7575
Email: kzunker@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Matthew F.G. Castano, Chairperson	District Court Judge	500 South Gillette Avenue, Suite 2400	Gillette, WY 82716	06/30/2026
Hon. John G. Fenn	Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2026
Hon. James Kaste	District Court Judge	P.O. Box 2077	Evanston, WY 82931	06/30/2028
Hon. Jefferson Coombs	Circuit Court Judge	450 North 2nd Street, Room 230	Lander, WY 82520	06/30/2026
Hon. Paul S. Phillips	Circuit Court Judge	500 South Gillette Avenue, Suite 2200	Gillette, WY 82717	06/30/2028

Circuit Court Audit Committee

The purpose of the Circuit Court Audit Committee is to provide support, guidance and consultation to the Administrative Office of the Court’s internal audit function to provide for the proper and uniform accounting of all money received and disbursed by circuit courts. The Committee also provides consultation on required court processes to be audited and on the discretionary processes in the circuit courts.

Order Creating the Circuit Court Audit Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Circuit Court Audit Committee

Committee Staff
Claire Smith, Deputy Administrator/Chief Fiscal Officer
Phone: 307.777.7502
Email: csmith@courts.state.wy.us

Cecilia Toomey, Internal Auditor
Phone: 307.777.7581
Email: ctoomey@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Craig L. Jones, Chairperson	Circuit Court Judge	50140C US Hwy 191 South, Suite 200	Rock Springs, WY 82901	06/30/2026
Hon. Kari Gray	Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2026
Hon. Nichole Collier	Circuit Court Judge	115 North Center, Suite 400	Casper, WY 82601	06/30/2028
Hon. Edward G. Luhm	Circuit Court Judge	P.O. Box 927	Worland, WY 82401	06/30/2027
Heather Eastin	Chief Circuit Court Clerk	115 North Center Street, Suite 400	Casper, WY 82601	06/30/2026
Sonia Loya	Chief Circuit Court Clerk	P.O. Box 980	Torrington, WY 82240	06/30/2028
Elisa Butler (non-voting member)	State Court Administrator	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	Continuous

EFiling Committee

The eFiling Committee reviews and recommends eFiling access improvements to the Wyoming Judicial Council ensuring a coordinated approach to eFiling and access in Wyoming’s trial courts.

Purpose and Structure of the eFiling Committee

Committee Staff
Elisa Butler, State Court Administrator
Phone: 307.777.7238
Email: ebutler@courts.state.wy.us

Education Committee

The Education Committee identifies and develops educational opportunities for Wyoming’s judiciary. The purpose of the committee is to help develop and implement an education program that focuses on continuous and career-long development of judicial officers and Judicial Branch staff.

Order Creating the Education Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Education Committee

Committee Staff
Brenda Reedy, Chief Human Resources & Education Officer
Phone: 307.777.7629
Email: breedy@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Bobbi Overfield, Chairperson	District Court Judge	P.O. Box 408	Worland, WY 82401	06/30/2028
Hon. Bridget Hill	Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2026
Hon. Benjamin Kirven	District Court Judge	620 West Fetterman Street, Suite 234	Buffalo, WY 82834	06/30/2026
Hon. Kate G. McKay	District Court Judge	450 North 2nd Street	Lander, WY 82520	06/30/2026
Hon. Sheryl Bunting	Circuit Court Judge	224 South Main Street, Suite B7	Sheridan, WY 82601	06/30/2028
Hon. Lynda Bush	Circuit Court Judge	309 Cleveland	Sundance, WY 82729	06/30/2026
Hon. John LaBuda	Circuit Court Judge	P.O. Box 1796	Pinedale, WY 82941	06/30/2026

Equal Justice Wyoming Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Equal Justice Wyoming Advisory Committee is to respond to requests from the Wyoming Judicial Council to promote and improve access to justice throughout Wyoming.

Order Restructuring the Equal Justice Wyoming Advisory Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Equal Justice Wyoming Advisory Committee

Committee Staff
Angie Dorsch, Equal Justice Wyoming Program Manager
Phone: 307.777.8385
Email: adorsch@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Cathy Duncil, Co-chair	P.O. Box 109	Cheyenne, WY 82003	06/30/2026
Kathryn E. Hogarty, Co-chair	217 South 1st Street	Laramie, WY 82071	06/30/2026
Hon. Robin S. Cooley	309 W. 20th Street	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2026
Hon. Daniel M. Stebner	1160 Major Ave., Ste. 100	Riverton, WY 82501	06/30/2026
Daniel Burnside	109 State Capitol	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2025
Stuart R. Day	P.O. Box 10700	Casper, WY 82602	06/30/2025
Walter F. Eggers III	P.O. Box 1347	Cheyenne, WY 82003	06/30/2025
Jennifer Kirk	P.O. Box 647	Basin, WY 82410	06/30/2025
Erik Oblasser	P.O. Box 1147	Laramie, WY 82073	06/30/2025
Tawnya Plumb	College of Law, Dept. 3036 E. University Ave.	Laramie, WY 82071	06/30/2026
Elisa Butler, Ex-Officio	2301 Capitol Ave.	Cheyenne, WY 82002

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Forms Committee

The purpose of the Forms Committee is to review, revise, and maintain court approved forms for the Wyoming Judicial Branch.

Order Creating the Forms Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Forms Committee

Committee Staff
Leora Hoshall, EJW Program Analyst
Phone: 307.777.8384
Email: lhoshall@courts.state.wy.us

	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. S. Joseph Darrah, Chairperson	Circuit Court Judge	1002 Sheridan Ave., Room 206	Cody, WY 82414	06/30/2026
Hon. Nathaniel Hibben	District Court Judge	309 West 20th Street, Suite 3300	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2028
Hon. Misha E. Westby	District Court Judge	525 Grand Ave., Suite 303	Laramie, WY 82070	06/30/2026
Hon. Nichole R. Collier	Circuit Court Judge	115 N. Center St., Suite 400	Casper, WY 82601	06/30/2028
Pamela Merchen	Clerk of District Court	P.O. Box 817	Gillette, WY 82716	06/30/2028
Katerie Driskill	Chief Circuit Court Clerk	620 West Fetterman Street, Suite 108	Buffalo, WY 82834	06/30/2028
Mackenzie Williams	Attorney	109 State Capitol	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2028
Erik Oblasser	Attorney	P.O. Box 1147	Laramie, WY 82073	06/30/2028
Ms. Angie Dorsch (non-voting member)	Executive Director of Equal Justice Wyoming	2300 Capitol Ave.	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2026

Human Resources Committee

The purpose of the Human Resources Committee is to review the Human Resources needs of the Wyoming Judicial Branch and develop recommended strategies and policies for the Wyoming Judicial Council to address those needs, including but not limited to employee compensation, job classification, recruitment and management, development, engagement, and retention.

Order Creating the Human Resources Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Human Resources Committee

Committee Staff
Claire Smith, Deputy Administrator/Chief Fiscal Officer
Phone: 307.777.7502
Email: csmith@courts.state.wy.us

Brenda Reedy, Chief Human Resources & Education Officer
Phone: 307.777.7629
Email: breedy@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Sean C. Chambers, Chairperson	Circuit Court Judge	309 West 20th Street, Room 2300	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2025
Hon. Peter H. Froelicher	District Court Judge	309 West 20th Street, Suite 3300	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2026
Hon. Suzannah G. Robinson	District Court Judge	P.O. Box 430	Green River, WY 82935	06/30/2025
Hon. Jefferson Coombs	Circuit Court Judge	450 North 2nd Street, Room 230	Lander, WY 82520	06/30/2026

Legislative Relations Committee

The purpose of the Legislative Relations Committee is to review and recommend legislative priorities to the Wyoming Judicial Council ensuring a coordinated approach to the Branch’s message to the Legislature. The Committee members will act as representatives for the Branch in legislative meetings, and will assist in communicating legislation of interest to the Judiciary back to the Committee members’ respective conferences to receive input and feedback.

Order Creating the Legislative Relations Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Legislative Relations Committee

Committee Staff
Elisa Butler, State Court Administrator
Phone: 307.777.7238
Email: ebutler@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Lynne Boomgaarden, Chairperson	Chief Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2027
Hon. Matthew F.G. Castano	District Court Judge	500 South Gillette Avenue, Suite 2400	Gillette, WY 82716	06/30/2027
Hon. Jason M. Conder	District Court Judge	450 North 2nd Street, Room 260	Lander, WY 82520	06/30/2026
Hon. Robert Sanford	Circuit Court Judge	525 Grand Avenue, Room 400	Laramie, WY 82070	06/30/2026
Hon. Kevin D. Taheri	Circuit Court Judge	115 North Center Street, Suite 400	Casper, WY 82601	06/30/2027

Technology Committee

The purpose of the Technology Committee is to make recommendations to the Wyoming Judicial Council concerning the Technology policies, needs, and vision of the Wyoming Judicial Branch. The Technology Committee will further the Wyoming Judicial Branch strategic plan and will consider the following areas as it makes recommendations to the Wyoming Judicial Council, though the exclusion of a topic area from the list does not preclude the Technology Committee from addressing a topic if it falls within the general purpose of the Committee as defined herein.

Hardware/Software Standard
Network Security
Courtroom Technology
Training
Funding and Resources for Technology now and in the future:
- Court Navigator Program
- Self-represented Litigant Forms
Court Applications, including:
- Case Management Systems
- Filing Systems (including eCitations)
- Public Access Systems
- Jury Management Systems

Order Creating the Technology Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Technology Committee

Committee Staff
Heather Kenworthy, Chief Applications Officer
Phone: 307.777.7652
Email: hkenworthy@courts.state.wy.us

Nate Goddard, Chief Technology Officer
Phone: 307.777.6130
Email: ngoddard@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Bridget Hill, Chairperson	Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2028
Hon. Joshua C. Eames	District Court Judge	115 North Center Street, Suite 200	Casper, WY 82601	06/30/2026
Hon. Timothy J. Forwood	Circuit Court Judge	309 West 20th Street	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2027
Nichole Lyman	Chief Circuit Court Clerk	P.O. Box 927	Worland, WY 82401	06/30/2026
Amanda Sanchez	Clerk of District Court	450 North 2nd Street, Room 235	Lander, WY 82520	06/30/2028

Technology Committee

Hardware/Software Standard
Network Security
Courtroom Technology
Training
Funding and Resources for Technology now and in the future:
- Court Navigator Program
- Self-represented Litigant Forms
Court Applications, including:
- Case Management Systems
- Filing Systems (including eCitations)
- Public Access Systems
- Jury Management Systems

Order Creating the Technology Committee
Purpose and Structure of the Technology Committee

Committee Staff
Heather Kenworthy, Chief Applications Officer
Phone: 307.777.7652
Email: hkenworthy@courts.state.wy.us

Nate Goddard, Chief Technology Officer
Phone: 307.777.6130
Email: ngoddard@courts.state.wy.us

Name	Title	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Bridget Hill, Chairperson	Justice	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2028
Hon. Joshua C. Eames	District Court Judge	115 North Center Street, Suite 200	Casper, WY 82601	06/30/2026
Hon. Timothy J. Forwood	Circuit Court Judge	309 West 20th Street	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2027
Nichole Lyman	Chief Circuit Court Clerk	P.O. Box 927	Worland, WY 82401	06/30/2026
Amanda Sanchez	Clerk of District Court	450 North 2nd Street, Room 235	Lander, WY 82520	06/30/2028

Agendas and Minutes

The Wyoming Judicial Council is committed to transparency and accountability in its decision-making process. This section provides access to meeting agendas and minutes, ensuring that the public and stakeholders stay informed about discussions and decisions that impact the judicial system.

Agendas and Minutes

2025

09.15.2025 Agenda
06.09.2025 Meeting Minutes
06.09.2025 Agenda
03.18.2025 Meeting Minutes
03.18.2025 Agenda

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Wyoming Judicial Council Committee Members

Name	Title	Court	Address	City, State Zip	Term Expiration
Hon. Lynne Boomgaarden, Chairperson	Chief Justice	Wyoming Supreme Court	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002
Hon. Kari Gray	Justice	Wyoming Supreme Court	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2026
Hon. Robert C. Jarosh	Justice	Wyoming Supreme Court	2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002	06/30/2027
Hon. Scott Peasley	District Court Judge	8th Judicial District	P.O. Box 189	Douglas, WY 82633	06/30/2028
Hon. Joseph B. Bluemel	District Court Judge	3rd Judicial District	925 Sage Avenue	Kemmerer, WY 83101	06/30/2027
Hon. Dawnessa Snyder	District Court Judge	2nd Judicial District	415 West Pine Street, Suite 201	Rawlins, WY 82301	06/30/2026
Hon. Sean Chambers	Circuit Court Judge	1st Judicial District	309 West 20th Street, Room 2300	Cheyenne, WY 82001	06/30/2027
Hon. Susan Stipe	Circuit Court Judge	2nd Judicial District	415 West Pine Street, Suite 235	Rawlins, WY 82301	06/30/2028
Hon. John Prokos	Circuit Court Judge	3rd Judicial District	50140C US Hwy 191 South, Suite 200	Rock Springs, WY 82901	06/30/2026
Elisa Butler, Executive Secretary to the Council	State Court Administrator	Wyoming Supreme Court	Supreme Court Building, 2301 Capitol Avenue	Cheyenne, WY 82002