Dear editor:

To the people of Wyoming,

We are past presidents of the Wyoming State Bar, writing to support an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and our constitutional system.  

It is reasonable to disagree with court decisions — half the people leaving a courtroom generally do. Constructive, respectful debate is a necessary, if not vital, part of democracy. But personal attacks on judges are inappropriate and dangerous. Judges must be free from improper influence or political pressure so they can apply the law fairly based on the facts and the Constitution. This independence protects everyone’s rights and public confidence in our courts.  

The Wyoming Constitution separates powers among the legislative, executive and judicial branches, each with distinct roles. The judiciary’s role is to interpret and apply the law and respecting that role — whether or not we like a result — is vital to stable government.  

As lawyers, we hold a special trust. As officers of the court, Wyoming lawyers have a  professional obligation to support the fair and impartial administration of justice. Our responsibility extends beyond our clients to the integrity of the legal system itself. As past  presidents of the Wyoming State Bar, we are committed to promoting public understanding of the rule of law, fostering respect for judicial processes, and supporting the institutional independence necessary for courts to fulfill their constitutional duties. We will continue to  engage the public in civil, fact-based dialogue, and to defend the judiciary when it is unfairly maligned. 

Judicial independence does not shield judges from accountability; accountability must come through the Constitution’s established processes, including the voters’ critical role in the retention vote of judges. Intimidation, personal attacks, attempts to change our merit selection system, and efforts to undermine the courts do not create accountability, they erode confidence in justice and the rule of law.  

An independent judiciary safeguards the rights of all Wyoming citizens and strengthens trust in our legal system. We will continue to support these principles in service to the people of Wyoming.  

Sincerely, 

Past presidents of the Wyoming State Bar,

Richard M. Davis 1989-1990 

L. Galen West 1993-1994 

Kermit Brown 1994-1995 

H.M “Hoke” MacMillan 1996-1997 

Paul Hickey 1997-1998

Timothy Day 2001-2002

Richard Honaker 2002-2003

Thomas E. Lubnau II 2003-2004

Mark Harris 2004-2005

Gay Woodhouse 2007-2008

William Hiser 2009-2010

Brian Hultman 2010-2011

Eric Jones 2011-2012

Patrick Korell 2013-2014

Bradley Bonner 2014-2015

Devon O’Connell 2015-2016

John Masterson 2016-2017

Kelly Neville 2019-2020

Billie Addleman 2020-2021

Kenneth Barbe 2021-2022

Christopher Hawks 2022-2023

Anna Reeves Olson 2023-2024

(Editor's note: Bradley Bonner is a co-owner of the Tribune.)