William “Bill” Simpson, a longtime civil and defense attorney in Cody, has been tabbed as Park County’s next district court judge.

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead announced Simpson’s appointment as a Fifth Judicial District Court judge on Friday.

“His long and strong commitment to the Cody area, his criminal and civil legal experience acquired over decades of practice, and his considerable volunteer legal work to help those in need were important in making the final selection,” Mead said in a statement.

The governor said Simpson received letters of support from judges, fellow attorneys, a victims’ services organization, various community members and others around the state.

Mead called the other two finalists — Powell attorney Joey Darrah and Casper attorney Keith Nachbar — “great candidates” and said the decision was very difficult.

Simpson, 60, described himself as humbled by the appointment.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words,” he said.

The Cody High School graduate and Ralston area resident has been practicing law with the firm now known as Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh and Jardine — a division of Burg Simpson — for 33 years. He’s also worked for the Wyoming Public Defender’s Office for nearly three decades, representing defendants in criminal cases who can’t afford their own attorney.

Simpson believes he’ll be able to make the transition from defense work to the bench, saying that, in some ways, he thinks that background has given him a much better understanding of defendants.

“You realize that sometimes, for better or worse, there is no other option than incarceration,” Simpson said. “And I don’t think any judge wants to do that, if there are reasonable and viable alternatives, that you want to try to return people to society to be productive and constructive members of society, but sometimes there’s just no other option.”

He added that, doing defense work, “sometimes you’re more aware than others as to when they’ve reached that point.”

Simpson said that as a judge, you “want to make sure that people are safe within their homes and businesses are safe within their operation and people who have issues, that you can hopefully get them some help and return them to their families and make sure they’re clean and sober, and help rather than hinder society.”

Simpson is part of the fourth generation of lawyers in his family, a tradition that started with his great-grandfather — also named Bill Simpson — who started practicing law in Wyoming in 1893. (That Bill Simpson may be best known for both shooting a Meeteetse banker and for being the only prosecutor to get a conviction against notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy.)

The Simpson in “Burg Simpson” is Bill’s father, former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson. Bill’s brother, former Wyoming Speaker of the House Colin Simpson, also practices law at the firm’s Cody office.

Simpson received his juris doctor from the University of Wyoming College of Law and was admitted to the Wyoming State Bar in April 1984.

Gov. Mead noted in a news release that Simpson has done a “significant” amount of pro bono legal work over the years, including on domestic relations, child custody, family law and defense of people who can’t afford a lawyer.

As for why he decided to seek the judgeship and leave private practice, “it’s nice to have some options and to try other things and when you’ve been doing something your entire working life and you wonder what it would be like to be in that alternate role,” Simpson said. “And it’s very different, but I think it can be equally rewarding.”

“There’s a lot of good in this world and there’s a lot of good that can come from the court systems,” Simpson said later, of the way the judicial system can impact people.

“Frankly, if they have an opportunity and if things go well in court, you can change a life,” he said. “And, conversely, something bad can happen, too.”

Simpson will replace retiring District Court Judge Steven Cranfill of Cody, who is leaving the bench on July 31.

“This is a great judicial district and has a great court system,” Simpson said. He said he’s been fortunate to practice before Cranfill, former District Court Judge Hunter Patrick of Powell, Circuit Court Judge Bruce Waters of Cody and Robert Skar of Worland — the Fifth Judicial District’s other District Court judge.

As district court judge, Simpson will receive an annual salary of $148,500 and preside over felony criminal cases, civil cases where more than $50,000 is in dispute, divorces, child custody disputes and juvenile cases, among other matters.

While it’s a serious job, Simpson indicated he’ll bring his sense of humor to the bench.

“The only way to stay sane in this business is … we don’t take it lightheartedly, but you can’t it take it too seriously or you’ll drive yourself crazy,” he said.