District Courts

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 5, ch. 3
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-101 Judicial districts enumerated; terms of court.

(a) The state of Wyoming is divided into judicial districts as follows: (i) The county of Laramie is the first judicial district; (ii) The counties of Albany and Carbon are the second judicial district; (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (iii) The counties of Sweetwater, Lincoln and Uinta are the third judicial district; (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (C) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (iv) The counties of Johnson and Sheridan are the fourth judicial district; (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (v) The counties of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie are the fifth judicial district; (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (C) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (D) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (vi) The counties of Campbell, Crook and Weston are the sixth judicial district; (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (C) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (vii) Natrona county is the seventh judicial district; (viii) The counties of Converse, Platte, Goshen and Niobrara are the eighth judicial district; (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (C) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (D) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (ix) The counties of Fremont, Teton and Sublette are the ninth judicial district. (A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (C) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be one (1) continuous term of court for the district courts of the state. The continuous term of court shall in no way affect the power of a court to take action in any cause or matter.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-102 Number of judges; distribution among districts; concurrent jurisdiction; judicial conference to adopt rules.

(a) There shall be two (2) judges of the district court in the second, fourth, fifth and eighth judicial districts, three (3) judges of the district court in the ninth judicial district and four (4) judges of the district court in the first, third, sixth and seventh judicial districts. In the second judicial district, one (1) judge shall reside in Albany county and one (1) shall reside in Carbon county. In the third judicial district two (2) judges shall reside in Sweetwater county. In the fourth judicial district, one (1) judge shall reside in Sheridan county and one (1) shall reside in Johnson county. In the ninth judicial district one (1) judge shall reside in Fremont county, one (1) judge shall reside in Teton county and one (1) judge shall reside in Sublette county. All district judges in the state shall have concurrent jurisdiction throughout the state and for purposes of assignment, shall have concurrent jurisdiction throughout the state with all circuit court judges. (b) The district courts shall be free of administrative and fiscal control by the supreme court. There shall be a judicial conference comprised of all district judges which shall meet no less than twice per year. The conference shall coordinate improvement efforts with the judicial administrative conference and shall report to the joint judiciary interim committee of such efforts annually on or before November 1. The conference shall adopt rules governing the organization and procedures of the conference which shall be published in the court rules volume of the Wyoming statutes. The conference shall adopt rules, which shall be binding on all of the district judges, governing the administration of the district courts to include, without limitation, personnel, fiscal and budgetary policy except technology which shall be done to provide an integrated statewide system in accordance with the efforts of the judicial technology task force. The judicial conference shall also adopt suitable rules to provide for division of the work between the judges in multi-judge districts. The judicial conference shall keep minutes of all meetings which, along with all rules adopted by the conference, shall be filed with the supreme court and be made available to the public.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-106 Judges to hold court for each other.

The judges of the several district courts shall hold courts for each other, when from any cause, any judge of a district court is unable to act or to hear, try or determine any cause in his district; and in such event the judge so disqualified or unable to act shall call upon one (1) of the other judges of the district court to hear, try and determine such cause, and the said judge so called upon, shall try, hear or determine said cause with all the jurisdiction, power and authority possessed by the judge of the district court of the district whereto he is called to act as judge.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-107 Assignment of acting or retired judge to another district in case of death or other emergency.

If any judge of any district court in this state shall die, or for any reason become unwilling or unable to perform the duties of his office, the chief justice of the supreme court of the state of Wyoming, by order to be duly entered in the records of the district court of each county in such district, may assign any district judge or any retired judge of this state, to perform any and all judicial functions therein, until a successor for such district shall have been appointed or elected and qualified according to law, and such assigned judge shall have the same jurisdiction and authority in such district as a duly elected and qualified judge of such district.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-108 Expenses of judges while acting on supreme bench.

All traveling expenses incurred by any district judge while traveling to and from the capitol at Cheyenne, for the purpose of sitting at the supreme court to hear and determine cases presented before said court, and his expenses at the capitol, while so engaged, shall be charged to the contingent fund of the supreme court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-109 Expenses of judges when acting in another district or circuit.

The expenses of any district judge holding court in any district other than his own or in any circuit court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-9-131, including his traveling expenses to and from said district or circuit, and his expenses while holding court therein, shall be charged to the contingent fund of the court in whose district he is so holding court or to the contingent fund of the circuit court in whose circuit he is so holding court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-9-131.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-110 Seal of the district court.

Each county shall provide the clerk of its district court with a seal, the impression of which shall contain the following words: "The District Court of Wyoming", together with the name of the county in which the same is to be used.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-111 County law library.

The board of county commissioners shall have the power to establish and maintain in their respective counties, a county law library, for the use and benefit of the judge of the district court and other citizens of the state and shall have the power to appropriate and set aside for the maintenance and support of said library, such moneys as it shall deem necessary or see fit. The district court of such county shall superintend and direct all expenditures made for said library, and shall have full power to make any rules and regulations, proper and necessary for the preservation, increase and use of the library, not inconsistent with law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-112 Assignment to circuit court judge or chancery court judge.

(a) A judge of the district court may assign to a circuit court judge or a chancery court judge any case or proceeding within the jurisdiction of the district court subject only to the following restrictions: (i) Rules promulgated by the supreme court; (ii) Acceptance of the judge to whom the assignment of the case or proceeding is to be made; (iii) Consent of each plaintiff and each defendant in a civil action; and (iv) Consent of both the prosecutor and the defendant in a criminal case in which the defendant is charged with any crime for which the aggregate sentences for all crimes charged exceed five (5) years in prison. (b) The law and rules governing district court and appeals therefrom shall apply to a case or proceeding assigned pursuant to this section.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-113 District courts budget submittal.

All district courts shall submit standard and supplemental budget requests to the legislature not later than November 1 of the year preceding the fiscal year in which the standard or supplemental budget is to take effect. The district courts shall prepare all personal services budget requests using the same methods and practices as the executive branch.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-201 Office created; term; election in counties of first and second class; county clerk designated ex officio clerk in other counties.

There shall be a clerk of the district court in each organized county of the state whose term of office shall be four (4) years and until his successor is elected and qualified. Clerks of the district court shall be elected at general elections in counties of the first and second class; and in all other counties the county clerk shall be ex officio clerk of the district court, and shall perform all of the duties pertaining to the office of clerk of the district court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-202 Duties generally.

Each clerk of the district court shall keep and make up the records and books of the court of his particular county, receive all cases filed therein, properly record and attend to the same, and shall have the care and custody of all the records, seal, books, papers and property pertaining to his said office or the court of the county for which he is elected and which may be filed or deposited therein, and shall receive, account for and pay over all money that may come into the possession of the court according to law, and under the orders or decrees of the court, except that which shall be received by master commissioners. He shall keep all records and files in criminal cases, and attend to all duties required of the clerk in relation thereto. He shall attend upon the terms of court held in the county for which he is elected, and perform such duties relating to his office as may be required of him by the court, and shall perform all such other duties relating to his office as are required of him by law or the rules and practice of the courts.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-203 Vacation of office; filling of vacancies.

The office of the clerk of the district court shall be deemed vacated under the circumstances provided by W.S. 22-18-101. Any vacancy in the office of the clerk of the district court shall be filled as provided by W.S. 22-18-111.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-204 Salaries to be paid by county.

The salaries of clerks of the district courts shall be paid by the county in which they respectively act, in monthly installments, after services are performed.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-205 Collection of fees in advance; payment to treasurer; liability for collection.

(a) All fees prescribed by statute for civil business, shall be collected in advance by the clerk and except as otherwise provided in this section shall be paid to the treasurer of the county at the end of each month. The clerk shall be liable under his bond for the collection and payment of such fees. The clerk shall remit: (i) The court automation fee prescribed by W.S. 2-2-401(a)(iii), 5-3-206(a)(i), (vii) and (x), 6-10-102 and 6-10-103 to the judicial systems automation account established by W.S. 5-2-120 at the end of each month; (ii) The indigent civil legal services fee prescribed by W.S. 2-2-401(a)(iv), 5-3-206(a)(i), (vii) and (x), 6-10-102 and 6-10-103 to the indigent civil legal services account established by W.S. 5-2-121 at the end of each month; (iii) The police officer continuing education and training fee prescribed by W.S. 31-5-1201(h) to the account in the enterprise fund under W.S. 9-1-633(n) at the end of each month.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-206 Fees.

(a) For all civil matters filed or commenced, the clerk of each district court shall charge the following fees: (i) For filing instruments or documents in each civil action and certifying one (1) copy of any order, decree or judgment at the time of its filing for each party, an original filing fee of one hundred sixty dollars ($160.00), which shall be paid by the plaintiff. This fee shall apply to original actions commenced and to actions that are reopened after a final decree previously has been entered. Forty dollars ($40.00) of the filing fee shall be for court automation, ten dollars ($10.00) shall be for indigent civil legal services and both shall be remitted as provided in W.S. 5-3-205; (ii) For issuing commission to take deposition, seventy-five cents ($.75); (iii) For taking depositions and the certificate, seal and transmission thereof, five dollars ($5.00); (iv) For taking affidavit or acknowledgment, certifying and sealing same, fifty cents ($.50) for each person; (v) For each certificate and seal, fifty cents ($.50); (vi) For copying or photostating any record or paper of the clerk's office when the instrument, record or paper contains one (1) page, one dollar ($1.00), and when more, fifty cents ($.50) for each additional page; (vii) For all transcripts in cases appealed to the supreme court, one hundred dollars ($100.00), including certificates, seals and transmission. Forty dollars ($40.00) of the fee under this paragraph shall be for court automation, ten dollars ($10.00) shall be for indigent civil legal services and both shall be remitted as provided in W.S. 5-3-205; (viii) For copies of other documents made by a county operator, fifty cents ($.50) for the first page and twenty-five cents ($.25) for each additional page; (ix) For filing, recording and issuing certificates of intention to become citizens of the United States and for final naturalization, including oath and record, in accordance with the fee schedule of the United States immigration and naturalization service; (x) For docketing and in payment of clerk's fee after docketing incident to any appeal or bill of exception from a circuit court, one hundred dollars ($100.00), and for docketing any transcript of judgment from a circuit court upon the judgment and execution dockets, one hundred dollars ($100.00), which amount shall be paid by appellant, or by judgment holder to the clerk at time of docketing. Forty dollars ($40.00) of any fee imposed under this paragraph shall be for court automation, ten dollars ($10.00) shall be for indigent civil legal services and both shall be remitted as provided in W.S. 5-3-205.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-207 Statement of costs mailed to parties to actions.

If requested by a party to a case, the clerk of the court shall make up an itemized statement of the court costs in the case and mail a copy to the requesting party.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-208 Amount of bond; conditions.

Each clerk upon entering on the duties of his office, shall give a bond in the penal sum of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) to the county to be approved by the county commissioners conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of his office, the proper collection and turning over all fees and the proper payment of all moneys collected by him and he shall from time to time give such additional bond as the judge of the court may require.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-209 Clerk liable on bond for acts of deputies; deputy's bond.

Each clerk shall be liable upon his official bond for all acts of his deputies, but each clerk may take from his deputies a bond to himself to indemnify him on account of the acts of his deputies.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-210 Duty as custodian of seal; seal to be attached to official papers.

The clerk of the district court shall be custodian of the seal of said court, which seal shall be kept in the office of the clerk of the district court in the respective counties and shall be attached to all writs, orders, or other instruments that the clerk of the district court is now or may hereafter be required or permitted to sign or certify in his official capacity.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-212 Entries on appearance docket and their effect.

The clerk shall enter on the appearance docket, at the time of the commencement of an action or proceeding, the names of the parties in full, with names of counsel, and forthwith index the case, direct and reverse, in the name of each plaintiff and defendant. He shall also enter at the time it occurs, under the case so docketed, the issue of the summons or other mesne process or order, and the filing of each paper, and he shall note on the appearance docket the date of issuance, date of service and how served and date of filing, which will be evidence of such service.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-213 Clerk not to act as attorney.

No clerk of the district court or county clerk in counties wherein such clerk is ex officio clerk of the district court, shall accept employment or retainer as an attorney-at-law or give any advice as such in any action, cause or proceeding pending in the court, wherein he is such clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-301 Appointment; number.

District courts of the several judicial districts of this state are empowered to appoint such number of district court commissioners in the several counties of their respective judicial districts as the public interest may require.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-302 Term of office; summary removal.

District court commissioners shall hold office during the pleasure of the district court, and may be summarily removed.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-303 Qualifications.

District court commissioners shall be learned in the law in this state, residents of the district for which appointed, and citizens of this state. To be learned in the law a person shall have sufficient knowledge, skill, training or experience to perform judicial functions.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-304 Order of appointment to be made in open court and entered on journal; use as evidence.

The order appointing each district court commissioner shall be made in open court and entered upon the journal. A certified copy of such journal entry shall be evidence of such appointment in all the courts of this state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-305 Appointment and termination thereof to be reported to county clerk.

When any court or the judge thereof, shall appoint a court commissioner who shall be authorized to take acknowledgments and administer oaths under this act, or whenever any court or the judge thereof shall revoke the appointment of any such court commissioner, or when any such commissioner shall resign, or his appointment cease for any reason, it shall be the duty of the clerk of said court to immediately notify, in writing, the county clerk of each county embraced within the jurisdiction of said court, of the making of said appointment or the termination thereof, as the case may be.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-306 Oath.

District court commissioners before entering upon the discharge of their official duties, shall take and subscribe before the clerk of the district court, of the county for which they were respectively appointed, the oath of office provided by the constitution.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-307 Powers generally.

(a) Each district court commissioner shall have the powers in respect to every suit or proceeding pending in the district court of the county for which he was appointed, as follows: (i) If no judge qualified to hear or act in the proceeding or action is present in the county for which such commissioner was appointed, to make any order which a judge of the district court is authorized by law to make in chambers and to hear and determine cases of mental illness or mental incompetency, and to hold juvenile detention or shelter care hearings; (ii) To make any order which a judge of the district court is authorized by law to make in chambers, upon the written statement of such judge, filed with the papers, that he is disqualified in such case; (iii) To administer oaths; (iv) To hear, try and determine all issues whenever an application shall have been made for a change of judge; (v) To take evidence and make findings, and report the same to the district court; (vi) To take depositions; (vii) To punish persons for contempts committed during hearings had before him; (viii) To issue and enforce process for the attendance of witnesses and production of evidence in all lawful hearings before him, in the same manner and with like force as the court might do if in session.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-308 Fees.

The fees of the district court commissioners shall be fixed by the district courts in which their services are rendered and may be taxed as costs, paid from the budget of the district court or from other funds available for that purpose.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-309 Orders to be entered in court journal.

All orders made by, and proceedings had before district court commissioners, shall be entered at length in the journal of the district court of the county for which they were appointed, by the district clerk, and shall be signed by the commissioners.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-310 District court to review orders; approval or disapproval.

The district court shall at each term review all orders made by, and proceedings had before commissioners of such court during vacation, and approve, disapprove, reverse or modify every such order or proceeding.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-311 Office of commissioner and clerk declared incompatible.

The office of district court commissioner and clerk of the district court are hereby declared to be incompatible and no person shall occupy the office of district court commissioner who is at the same time a clerk of the district court, or is a county clerk in counties wherein such clerk is ex officio clerk of court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-312 Commissioner not to act as attorney; when attorney not to act as commissioner.

No district court commissioner shall accept employment or retainer as an attorney-at-law, or give any advice as such in any action, cause or proceeding pending before him as such commissioner; and he shall not be authorized to act as such commissioner, or exercise any of the powers thereof, in any action, case or proceeding in which or as to the subject thereof he shall have been engaged, employed or retained as an attorney, or in reference to which and the subject thereof he shall have given any advice.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-401 Office created; appointment; term.

The office of official court reporter for each judge of each judicial district in the state of Wyoming is hereby created and each judge of each judicial district in the state of Wyoming is hereby required and empowered to appoint one (1) court reporter for his district, whose term of office shall be during the pleasure of the judge making such appointment and until their successor is appointed and qualified.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-403 Duties generally; oath; furnishing transcripts.

Such reporter shall be in constant attendance upon the judge of said court at all times, and shall be the clerk and stenographer of the judge, and he shall be sworn to the faithful performance of his duty, and take the oath of office required in the constitution of this state, and shall remain in attendance on the court, and take full stenographic notes in cases tried during said attendance, of all testimony or admissions made by either side, objections to the introduction of testimony, the ruling of the court thereon, the exceptions taken thereto, and such other proceedings as the court may direct, and shall preserve such stenographic notes and furnish a transcript thereof, or of any part of same, upon the request of any party having an interest therein, provided, however, that if no request for such transcript shall be made to the court reporter for a period of ten (10) years subsequent to the hearing of any cause wherein stenographic records have been taken, the said court reporter may destroy his original stenographic records, and, provided, further, however, that if a transcript shall be furnished any party as provided herein, then and in that event, the court reporter may destroy his original stenographic records within a period of ten (10) years from and after the furnishing of said transcript to the party or parties ordering same.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-404 Criminal cases; reporting and transcript of proceedings.

The court reporter for criminal cases prosecuted in the district court shall report all testimony and all proceedings held in open court, except informal discussions, informal instruction conferences and pretrial conferences which shall be reported when requested by a party. The reporter shall, within a reasonable time, transcribe arraignment, plea, change of plea and sentencing hearings and file the transcript in the official court record.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-405 Criminal cases; post-conviction proceedings.

In any case arising as a post conviction relief proceeding, W.S. 7-14-101 through 7-14-108, in which the presiding judge has determined that the post conviction petition is sufficient to require an answer, the court reporter shall transcribe the record of the criminal proceeding in which the petitioner was convicted in full unless the court shall, by written order, determine that portions of the record are not required or material for decision in the proceeding. Additionally, the court reporter shall record evidentiary proceedings conducted under this section and shall transcribe that record if an appeal is taken.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-406 Criminal cases; original and copy of transcript to be furnished when required by order.

The official court reporter shall transcribe and furnish an original and copy of the proceedings at the trial of any person sentenced to any imprisonment where an order is or has been entered so requiring.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-407 Criminal cases; payment of fees; form and contents of certificate.

The reporter shall be paid in full for all his services in connection with the transcribing and filing or furnishing the transcripts referred to in this act, the same fee for the transcribing, filing, and furnishing of transcripts as provided in W.S. 5-3-410. All such fees shall be paid out of the state treasury on the warrant of the state auditor from appropriations made for such purpose, upon presentation of a certificate signed by the presiding judge setting the amount due said reporter. Such certificate shall as to each original transcript, and copy where fee for copy is authorized, set forth the title and number of the cause in which the transcript was required to be furnished, the nature of the proceedings transcribed, whether an arraignment, proceedings at criminal trial or proceedings at post conviction hearing, and the fee approved therefor. The state auditor may prescribe the form of the certificate and furnish same.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-408 Bond.

Each official reporter, appointed as aforesaid, shall give a bond to the state of Wyoming, with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the judge of the district court of such district, and filed with the secretary of state, in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), conditioned for the faithful and efficient performance of the duties of said office.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-409 Duty as judge's stenographer.

Each official reporter appointed under the provisions of this act, as court reporter, shall also be the stenographer of the judge of said court, and shall do and perform such stenographic labor for the judge of said court as of him or her may be required in his official capacity as judge.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-410 Fees for civil cases; collection; to be paid into state treasury; liability of reporter for collection.

(a) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 18, § 1. (b) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 18, § 1. (c) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 18, § 1. (d) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 18, § 1. (e) Repealed by Laws 2023, ch. 148, § 2. (f) Fees for transcripts, records and other papers required to be made and issued as the official reporter shall be set by rule of the district court judicial conference established in W.S. 5-3-102(b).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-411 Salary.

Each official district court reporter in this state shall be paid annual salaries as provided by law, payable in equal monthly installments upon warrant of the state auditor upon the state treasurer.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-412 Substitute during absence or disability.

In case of sickness or if said official court reporter be unable to attend to his official duties from any cause at any time, the judge of the district court in each judicial district in this state, when the trial of cases required to be reported necessitates it, is authorized and empowered to obtain a suitable and competent person as substitute for such official court reporter, during such disability; such substitute to receive the fees herein provided for in full compensation for such services. And in all cases where any signature of the official court reporter is required, the same, during the absence or any such disability of the official court reporter shall be signed by the person substituted therefor as acting official court reporter, and in such cases the same shall have the same legal force and effect as if signed by the official court reporter.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-501 Definitions.

(a) When used in this act, the following definitions will apply unless the context otherwise requires: (i) Court.-The word "court" shall mean the district or juvenile courts; (ii) Counselor.-An officer appointed by the county commissioners with the approval of the district judge in the district where he is to be employed under the provisions of this act to work with juvenile offenders, and parolees or probationers; (iii) Probationer.-Any person placed on probation with the imposition and execution of sentence suspended after a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or after conviction of any offense in any district or juvenile court in Wyoming, or by any court of a foreign state having jurisdiction to place such offenders on probation, or any person who has been paroled before sentence by any district or juvenile court; (iv) Tense, Gender.-The singular includes the plural, the plural the singular, and the masculine the feminine, when consistent with the intent of the act.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-502 Employment authorized; employment of 1 counselor for 2 or more districts.

The county commissioners are hereby authorized to employ sufficient counselors in such judicial district upon the written request of the district judge or judges therein. In any district where in the discretion of the district judge or judges the case load does not justify the hiring of a counselor, a counselor may be employed to work in two (2) or more districts.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-503 Appointment after approval by district judge; determination of maximum salary.

Counselors may be appointed by the county commissioners only after the applicant is interviewed and approved by the district judge or judges in the district in which he is to be employed. The maximum salary of counselors appointed under the provisions of this act, shall be determined by the county commissioners.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-504 Duties.

(a) Each counselor employed under the provisions of this act shall have the following duties: (i) He shall make a complete social and background investigation of all persons referred to him by the court. This investigation shall include past violations, family background, present source of income and family status. It shall include a written recommendation as to disposition of the offender by the counselor, which shall be submitted to the court prior to sentencing: (A) The investigation may be waived by the offender unless the court specifically requests it; (B) Special attention shall be given to minor offenders in the effort to rehabilitate them toward responsible citizenship; (ii) He may make social history investigations where requested by judges in cases where minors are involved. In such cases he may assume authority where the offender is placed on probation by the presiding officer; (iii) He shall furnish to each person released on probation and placed under his supervision a written statement of conditions of the probation or parole and shall instruct each of his charges thereon. Each counselor shall keep informed concerning the conduct and conditions of each person in his charge by making regular personal visits, and in other ways he deems necessary or advisable; (iv) A written report shall be submitted periodically on each person under the counselor's supervision to the department of corrections or, as appropriate, the department of family services and a copy shall be sent to the judge having jurisdiction of the case; (v) He shall advise and counsel his charges and encourage steps in the direction of rehabilitation and good citizenship. (b) All case records shall be confidential.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title05.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026