WY Supreme Court Justice Davis Announces Retirement

Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Michael K. Davis plans to retire in January, opening the way for Gov. Mark Gordon to make his first appointment to the state high court.

Davis plans to retire Jan. 16 after a decade on the state high court, Chief Justice Kate M. Fox said in a statement Tuesday (September 7th).

Davis served as chief justice for three years, stepping down from that role July 1.

He was a state district judge for four years before being named to the Supreme Court.

He previously was an attorney in private practice.

He graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming law school in 1980.

Former Gov. Matt Mead, a Republican, named all five current justices over his two terms in office.

Gordon, also a Republican, will choose the next justice from a list of three names submitted to him by the state Judicial Nominating Commission.

The commission plans to accept expressions of interest from qualified people through Oct. 1.

Wyoming requires Supreme Court justices to be at least 30, “learned in the law,” a judge or attorney for at least nine years, a U.S. citizen and a Wyoming resident for at least three years.