Wyoming District Courts

Wyoming's district courts are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction, with authority over all felony criminal cases and civil cases involving more than $50,000, exclusive original jurisdiction over juvenile and probate matters, and appellate jurisdiction over Wyoming's Circuit Courts, which handle small claims and misdemeanors. District judges are chosen by the Governor from three candidates nominated by the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission, serve six year terms subject to retention elections, and like Wyoming Supreme Court justices must retire at age 70; a judge must be a licensed attorney at least 28 years old and a Wyoming resident for at least two years. The state's 23 counties are grouped into nine judicial districts served by 22 judges in all, and because Wyoming has no intermediate appellate court, appeals from district court go directly to the state Supreme Court.