A photo blog depicting contemporary courthouses in the Western United States.
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Tone it down, senator. There is no fire in this theater.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Things in the air. Some observations with varying degrees of introspection.
This blog is supposed to be dedicated to architecture, basically, although matters pertaining to the law do show up here. Very rarely is there anything on the practice of law.
This is an exception, but really not a cheerful one.
As noted, it's not cheerful. Perhaps its ironic, therefore, that the much longer post I took this from started off with:
Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.St. Philip Neri.
Well, it's hard to see how we lawyers are Servants of God. Indeed, I fear out dedication to money has been such that we're getting to the point that's all we're the servants of.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Wyoming Senate panel rebuffs effort to give lawmakers more control over judicial nominations
Wyoming Senate panel rebuffs effort to give lawmakers more control over judicial nominations: The Wyoming Freedom Caucus began criticizing the court’s judiciary after rulings against its initiatives. A narrow vote Tuesday indicated debate is likely to continue.
Monday, July 21, 2025
Judges, lawyers describe perils of attacking judiciary at Grand Teton National Park gathering
Friday, July 4, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Governor Gordon Appoints Keith Kautz Attorney General
Governor Gordon Appoints Keith Kautz Attorney General
This is a great choice by Governor Gordon.
Governor Gordon Appoints Keith Kautz Attorney General
July 02, 2025
Governor Mark Gordon has announced the appointment of Keith Kautz as Attorney General beginning July 7, 2025. Kautz replaces Ryan Schelhaas, who is serving as interim Attorney General following the departure of Bridget Hill.
Kautz served as a justice on the Wyoming Supreme Court from 2015 until 2024, when he turned 70 and was required by Wyoming’s Constitution to retire from the bench. From 1993 until 2015 he served as a District Court Judge for the Eighth District covering Converse, Goshen, Niobrara, and Platte counties. He previously served as a private practice attorney in Torrington as a partner in the firm Sawyer, Warren & Kautz. Kautz grew up in Torrington and earned his Bachelors and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Wyoming.
“When accepting my offer to serve as Wyoming’s 39th Attorney General, I was delighted to hear Justice Kautz quote George Washington who, when selecting our country’s first attorney general, stated that ‘the due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government,’” Governor Gordon said. “I share that view, and know that Justice Kautz has the talent, experience and skill to fulfill this important duty, as well as provide the due administration of justice to the people of Wyoming. We are fortunate that he desires to continue to serve our great state, and I look forward to his leadership in this most essential office.”
“I am honored to serve Wyoming, and to work with the outstanding staff at the Attorney General’s office,” Kautz said.
The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office is the legal advisor for the State of Wyoming. In addition to providing a full range of legal services to statewide elected officials, agencies, and State employees in the conduct of official State business, the Attorney General’s Office is Wyoming’s primary State law enforcement agency. The Office provides a full spectrum of services, ranging from statewide criminal investigations performed by the Division of Criminal Investigation; initial and advanced law enforcement training provided by the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy; and crime victim advocacy and victim support programs and payments through the Division of Victim Services. The Attorney General’s Office also provides administrative support to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission and the Wyoming Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.
I can't help but feel that part of the reason that Gordon brought Justice Kautz out of retirement for this position is his calm, steady, demeanor. Kautz was a widely admired district court judge and then supreme court justice, who was completely unflappable. Recently he demonstrated that in regard to a comment on the case regarding abortion in front of the supreme court, in which he openly cited to religion and prayer.
He'll be in charge of advancing the Governor and state's interest in that regards, which has been to restrict and ban abortion. Added to that, however, Governor Gordon has been repeatedly faced with needling from Secretary of State Gray, who has used that office to grandstand. Chance are that Kautz's calm demeanor was in mind in regard to that as well.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025
Condemn attacks on judiciary, Wyoming lawyers and judges urge delegation
Condemn attacks on judiciary, Wyoming lawyers and judges urge delegation: More than 100 members of the state’s legal community, including four retired Supreme Court justices, implored Sens. Barrasso and Lummis and Rep. Hageman to resist “reckless disdain” for the courts.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Monday, August 19, 2024
Painted Bricks: Aviator statue. Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Monday, May 13, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Why Law School Should Be an Undergraduate Program — Minding The Campus
Why Law School Should Be an Undergraduate Program — Minding The Campus: In most parts of the world, lawyers are formally trained in an undergraduate degree program. The Bachelor of Law (LL.B), is also an accelerated three-year curriculum. In the United States it takes over twice as long. First you need a 4-year undergraduate degree in any subject—a gratuitous requirement, as there is no such thing as […]
Thoughts?
I'm not sure that I agree, but there'es something to the suggestion.
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Railhead: Rail Features. Thyra Thompson Building, Casper Wyoming. Chancery Court.
Rail Features. Thyra Thompson Building, Casper Wyoming.
The building is built right over what had been the Great Northwest rail yard in Casper, which was still an active, although not too active, rail yard into my teens. I can't really recall when they abandoned the line, but it was abandoned.
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Today In Wyoming's History: U.S. Supreme Court upholds the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act.
The United States Supreme Court, contrary to many expectations, including many in the legislature, upheld today the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act.
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Lex Anteinternet: Biden Nominates Kentaji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court
Biden Nominates Kentaji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court
Monday, October 11, 2021
Blog Mirror: Practicing During Covid
This article is an absolute classic. The best written work to come out of the pandemic.